A case of avian flu has been found at a poultry farm in Norfolk
(Picture: PA Wire)A case of bird flu has been identified at a poultry farm in Norfolk.
All birds on the farm in Gayton, near King’s Lynn, are to be “humanely culled” following the discovery of the infection on Sunday.
A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has also been put in place around the premises, the Animal and Plant Health Agency has said.
Avian flu mainly affects birds but can, in rare cases, also affect humans and other animals.
The case found in Norfolk is the most serious type of avian flu - highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) - which is often fatal to birds.
The discovery comes days after another case of the disease was confirmed on Friday, among captive wild birds at a premises near Newlyn, St. Ives, Cornwall.
In November, it was declared there was a medium risk of avian flu for some poultry premises in the UK, and enhanced measures were introduced to curb the spread of infection.
The risk has recently been reduced to low, but all poultry gatherings, including at fairs and markets, remain banned.
The RSPB is calling for the government “to develop a response plan urgently” to reduce the impact on the nation’s bird populations.
The charity says: “We want to see coordinated surveillance and testing of wild and domestic birds, carcasses to be safely disposed of and vulnerable bird populations protected. We also want measures put in place to stop the unnecessary disturbance of wild birds affected by the virus.
“In the longer term, we want much higher importance being given to prioritising and funding seabird conservation. This would help make our seabird populations more resilient to these diseases and the other challenges they face.”
