The King has paid a visit to the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) in Weybridge to talk to scientists and staff about their work in combating the largest-ever avian influenza outbreak in the UK.
There have been over 330 cases of avian influenza confirmed across the country since October 2021.
APHA’s scientists and staff have played vital role in supporting avian influenza diagnostics and disease control. Their work to tackle the outbreak helps protect animal and public health but also supports our international trading relationships.
The King visited the Weybridge site on 9 March and had a full tour which involved briefings on some of most difficult animal health diseases the world faces including avian influenza and bovine TB as well as plant health challenges including invasive non-native species. He also visited dedicated specialist research laboratories to see genome mapping and a mosquito laboratory where he learnt about APHA’s vector-borne disease (VBD) programme.
Lord Benyon, minister for biosecurity, marine and rural affairs, said: “The Animal and Plant Health Agency has a long-standing reputation for excellence in the field of biosecurity and the work it does to protect the UK from animal diseases, which in turn supports our economy and food security.”
Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said the visit was about “recognising the last 18 months of remarkable work and the APHA staff who have worked day in and day out to help control and manage the spread of avian influenza.
“The scale of avian influenza outbreaks across the UK and Europe has been unprecedented and our response has been underpinned by the world-leading science and disease control work carried out at Weybridge.”