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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Elaine Blackburne

Every place now hit by bird flu as spread continues moving north

Bird Flu Influenza North Yorkshire Suffolk

Millions of birds have been "humanely culled" as devastating bird flu spreads across the country. According to latest government figures there have been 375 confirmed cases of two strains of the virus.

There have been 120 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in England since 1 October 2022. There have been 255 cases of (HPAI) H5N1 in England since the H5N1 outbreak started in October 2021.

A Defra minister has already warned that Christmas dinner could be affected as millions of turkeys and other birds are killed to try to limit the spread of the virus. However it is continuing to spread with latest cases heading further north.

This week the virus was identified in both North Yorkshire and County Durham. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on November 22 at a second premises near Easingwold, Hambleton, North Yorkshire. And on Monday highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry and other captive birds at a premises near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

And on Wednesday highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on at a fourth premises, near Taverham, Norfolk (AIV 2022/216) A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone are in place around all three premises. All birds on the affected premises will be humanely culled.

The Government has already taken several steps to tackle the UK’s largest ever outbreak of avian influenza. While it has focused on biosecurity, it is also now enforcing a housing order in England, where poultry must be kept inside.

Farmers have also been allowed to slaughter their turkeys early, freeze and then defrost and sell as fresh later in the year, and are also offered compensation from the outset of a planned cull instead of the end.

The risk to human health from avian influenza remains very low, according to public health advice, and there is a low food safety risk.

There are 146 premises which have been identified as having bird flu. They are:

The areas affected by bird flu (Defra)
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