It might be a staple of the Christmas dinner but this year turkey could be missing from the menu for millions across the UK. The chairman of the National Farmers' Union poultry board said the current bird flu outbreak could cause 'carnage' on the supply chain this festive season.
The UK is currently experiencing the worst bird flu outbreak in history and more than three million turkeys have been culled in a bid to keep the disease under control so far. In an attempt to protect livestock, special protection zones have been created in Norfolk, Suffolk, parts of Essex and the whole of the south-west of England.
The government currently warns that the risk from avian influenza is medium. A statement on gov.uk reads: “The risk of incursion of highly pathogenic (HPAI) avian influenza H5 in wild birds in Great Britain remains at medium (that is, event occurs regularly).
