Nine cases of avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds have now been confirmed, including two new cases in turkey rearing farms in Norfolk, which were confirmed over the weekend.
On 5 December, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 has been confirmed in rearing turkeys at a premises near King’s Lynn, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk. A 3km Protection and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the infected premises.
On 4 December, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 has been confirmed in rearing turkeys at a premises near Attleborough, Breckland, Norfolk. A 3km Protection and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around the infected premises.
Last week, the Chief Veterinary Officers for England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to bring in new measures to help protect poultry and captive birds. The new housing measures announced on the 3 December 2020, which will come into force on the 14 December 2020, mean that it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.
These housing measures build on the strengthened biosecurity regulations that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Protection Zone (AIPZ) on 11 November 2020. The AIPZ means all bird keepers (whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) are required by law to take a range of biosecurity precautions.