Bird Flu Found on Lincolnshire Farm

UK – The H5N8 strain of avian influenza was confirmed at a farm in Lincolnshire on Friday 16 December.
calendar icon 19 December 2016
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A flock of turkeys at a Lincolnshire farm has been affected by bird flu. Most birds at the premises have died, while the remaining birds will be culled. A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected farm. Prevention Zones were put in place UK-wide on December 6.

Public Health England (PHE) has stressed that there is no risk to UK consumers from bird flu. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products are safe to eat.

Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, said: "Avian flu has been confirmed on a turkey farm in Lincolnshire. This is the same strain that has been affecting poultry in Europe. Immediate steps have been taken to limit the risk of the disease spreading and all remaining poultry at the farm will be culled.

"Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

"Bird keepers should remain alert for any signs of disease, report suspected disease immediately and ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises.

"We are urgently looking for any evidence of disease spread associated with this farm to control and eliminate it."

There is not anticipated to be any impact on the supplies of turkeys or other birds over Christmas.

According to Defra, a detailed investigation is in progress to determine the most likely source of this outbreak.

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