The HPA would not confirm if the worker was a vet but said a range of tests was being carried out to establish the cause of the illness, one of which would be for the H5N1 avian flu.
The HPA spokesman said: "It is highly unlikely the worker has been exposed to H5N1 because of the strict precautionary measures followed. The individual had not been pre-exposed and was wearing full protective clothing."
The HPA spokesman would not say what the worker did nor whether it was a man or a woman.
éWe have someone who has mild respiratory problems - a worker,é said the spokesman.
éAs a precaution we are testing for H5N1.
éThey were wearing fully protective gear and it is highly unlikely that they would have become infected.
éAs I understand they have been working on the farm after the outbreak so this is not someone with a case of prior infection.é
He said experts hoped the have the results of tests back by tomorrow.
He added: éWe have a rather faster test these days and it shouldnét take too long to get the results.
éI donét know whether we would have them tonight, we should have them first thing tomorrow.é
Bird flu expert Professor John McCauley, of the MRC National Institute of Medical Research, said tonight: éThere is no need to panic.é
The priority would be to establish whether or not the vet had caught the H5N1 virus, but with swift treatment the situation could be contained, he said.
éThe infecting of one person is not a critical event. It is if the person spreads it to someone and then on to someone else - thatés when it becomes critical.é
In 2003, a Dutch vet died after handling infected birds, although he was infected by the different H7N7 strain, Prof McCauley said.
éThe message is, there is always the risk of someone who has been involved becoming infected, it has certainly happened in the past.é
He added: éIt is very bad luck. I hope the person is okay, I hope it is not flu, and if it is, I hope the Tamiflu works.é
Bernard Matthews tonight defended its handling of the outbreak.
Commercial director Bart Dalla Mura said the company had no idea the turkeys were suffering from bird flu until the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) told them last Friday.
éWe became aware on Friday when Defra told us,é he said today.
Mortality
éWe heard the birds werenét well on Wednesday, the mortality increased a bit more on Thursday and that is when our vet said éIém going to contact the next stage of the lineé.
éThe last thing we thought is that they had avian flu.
éThis was a young flock and there were other things they could have had to make them ill. There were almost contra-indicators to it.
éOnly when the mortality went up on Thursday did the possibility of it being avian flu came to light.é
Earlier today, European Union veterinary experts were told that the bird flu outbreak in Suffolk was unlikely to be linked to one in Hungary last month.
EU spokesman Michael Mann told reporters the expert panel was being debriefed by British veterinary officials on the outbreak at the turkey farm, but was unlikely to take added safety measures at this point.
Mann also chided Russia and Japan for applying bans on British poultry imports in the wake of the outbreak, saying they were unjustified.
éWe will do everything we can to make sure these bans last as short a period as possible because it is not justified,é Mr Mann said.
The 27-member veterinary panel was holding talks to assess public and animal safety measures taken by British health officials following the outbreak.
éThe UK made a presentation this morning at the committee where they said it doesnét seem likely the infection came from Hungary,é Mr Mann said.
Mr Dalla Mura today said there was énot a remote possibilityé the outbreaks could be linked.
Bernard Matthews owns Saga Foods, Hungaryés largest poultry company, which is 165 miles from the place where an outbreak of the H5N1 virus occurred in a flock of geese.
éOur farm is about 160 miles away from the outbreak and vets agree it is just not a source of questioning at all,é Mr Dalla Mura said.
éThere is not a remote possibility it would have happened in that way.é
He said he was optimistic consumers would continue to have faith in the companyés products.
éI think consumers get it this time,é he said. éThey know this has been contained. Nothing had got into the food chain at all. Ités not like Sudan 1 or BSE.é
He said biosecurity at the Holton site, which employs around 1,000 workers, was égood or better than requiredé.
éWe have higher standards in some areas than Defra requires,é he said.
éOur biosecurity standards are so rigorous that we really need to find out what the cause is to find out if there is anything else we could possibly have done. Our view is there wasnét.é
Mr Dalla Mura said the virus could have hit any flock, whether free-range or factory farmed.
éIn most cases, bird flu, certainly in the Far East, is from domestic and free range fowl,é he said.
éThe way we farm meant that we could contain it. We know absolutely where it was and we could contain it.é
22 sheds
He said the infection was confined to one out of 22 sheds and there was no evidence it had spread to any other turkeys.
The farm will reopen once Defra gives it the all clear.
éThe farm is being disinfected and basically made secure,é Mr Dalla Mura said. éIn other parts of the site we are producing meat products as normal.é
He added: éSome workers have gone back today. We work with the unions and they are very happy with how we briefed them.é
Mr Dalla Mura said Bernard Matthews was énot as well as he has beené, but added that he had met the 76-year-old this morning to discuss marketing matters.
He said: éHe is obviously concerned and upset that it happened to our business ... We have been in daily contact with him, but the day to day decision making is done by the executives. Heés not as well as he has been, but then he is 76.é
Mr Della Mura said the source of the outbreak remained a mystery, but a wild bird getting into the turkey pens remained a possibility.
He said he thought the poultry industry might take a éwobbleé because of the outbreak, but added: éIf there is a wobble it will be very short term.é
Compensation from Defra would not cover the cost of the birds that had been culled, he added.
éThere has been no risk to human health whatsoever and people should have nothing to fear,é he said. éThere is no problem with Bernard Matthews turkeys.é
Mr Dalla Mura said Bernard Matthews birds were home grown.
éAll the turkeys have British mums and dads and the eggs are grown by us and the chicks are put in the sheds,é he said.
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