Bird flu confirmed on poultry farm in Yorkshire as protection zone set up

Cases of bird flu have been confirmed at a commercial poultry farm in Hornsea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that all poultry on the premises near Hornsea will be humanely culled. A protection zone spanning 3km (1.86 miles) has been set up around the unidentified site. Additionally, Defra has put a surveillance zone covering 10km (6.21 miles) around the farm.

Tests revealed the presence of the H5N5 strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus at the site in Hornsea. This marks the first case of this strain found in poultry or captive birds in England during the current outbreak, Yorkshire Live reports.

Both H5N5 and H5N1 strains, the latter of which has been more common in recent years, have been detected in wild birds in Britain during the autumn. This has led to an increase in the risk level for the H5 strain from medium to high. However, it remains low in poultry.

The UK Health Security Agency reassured that the risk to public health is very low, while the Food Standards Agency stated that bird flu poses a minimal food safety risk, with properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, remaining safe to eat.

All keepers of birds, including chickens, geese and ducks, have been required to register their flocks with the Animal and Plant Health Agency since October this year. The new legislation was brought in to monitor outbreaks of avian influenza.

The register had previously only been applicable to those owning 50 or more birds but now requires anyone who keeps one or more birds outdoors to sign up. Birds such as budgies, parrots and canaries which are kept indoors or in a dedicated ‘bird house’ without any outside access are exempt.

In an alert sent out to chicken-owners today (November 6) the APHA said: "Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N5 has been confirmed at a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire.

"All birds keepers should remain vigilant and follow stringent biosecurity measures to prevent future outbreaks. More information is available at gov.uk"

If you’re in a bird flu disease control zone you must follow the rules for that zone and check if you need a licence to move poultry, poultry by-products, eggs, material or mammals.

When a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (the most serious type of bird flu) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds, one of the following controls are put in place around the infected premises:

• a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone
• a 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone

Check if you’re in a bird flu disease zone on the map.