Pre-Christmas lockdown for all poultry in England to stop spread of bird flu outbreak

The new measures are being introduced after the disease was confirmed at over 90 premises and has been found in more than 200 dead wild birds since the start of October.

Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: “Many poultry keepers in England have excellent biosecurity standards but we know that one small mistake is all it takes to introduce bird flu onto premises and kill flocks.

“A housing order alone will not be enough to reduce infection rates. Implementing scrupulous biosecurity and separating flocks from wild birds remains the best form of defence.

“Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from today onwards they must be housed under cover to protect them from this highly infectious disease.”

According to the latest update on November 4 on the Government’s website, there have been 96 confirmed cases of avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, better known as bird flu, in England since 1 October 2022. 

Since the outbreak started a year ago in October 2021, there have been 230 cases in total.

Cases have been confirmed in commercial poultry at several premises, including in Norfolk, Suffolk, Lancashire and Lincolnshire to name a few. 

But according to the Government, housing birds should be able to reduce the risk of kept birds being infected with the disease. 

The UK Health Security Agency continues to advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low.

The Food Standards Agency’s advice that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers also remains unchanged.

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1693336/bird-avian-flu-england-lockdown-pre-christmas