Bird flu outbreak confirmed at poultry farm in Lancashire

Bird flu outbreak confirmed at poultry farm in Lancashire as temporary exclusion zone is set up around the site and residents are warned not to pick up sick or dying animals to avoid spreading the virus

  • An outbreak of bird flu was confirmed at a poultry farm in Lancashire yesterday
  • A temporary control zone has been declared around the affected site in Salwick
  • Residents warned not to pick up sick or dying birds to avoid spreading the virus

People in Lancashire have been warned not to pick up and sick or dying birds after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed at a poultry farm.

A temporary control zone has been declared around the affected site in Salwick, near Preston.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health and wellbeing for Lancashire County Council, said: ‘I want to reassure residents that the risk to public health from avian flu is very low.

‘However, it is important that people do not pick up any sick or dead birds to avoid spreading the virus, which can affect humans in rare cases.

People in Lancashire have been warned not to pick up and sick or dying birds after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed at a poultry farm (stock image)

‘If you do find any dead swans, geese or ducks or other dead wild birds while out and about, please report them to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

‘I would also urge bird keepers to be vigilant for any signs of disease and report any suspected cases to their nearest Animal and Plant Health Agency office.’

The response is being led locally by Lancashire County Council, Fylde Borough Council, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency).

Temporary road signs will make people aware as they arrive and leave the control zone, measuring 3km and 10km, which restricts access to locations where birds are kept and restrictions on the movement of birds.

A temporary control zone has been declared around the affected site in Salwick, near Preston, with the response being led by Lancashire County Council, Fylde Borough Council, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency)

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: ‘H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed at a commercial poultry premises in Lancashire. We have taken swift action to limit the spread of the disease and any birds at risk of infection will now be humanely culled.

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

‘We have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across Great Britain, so whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, it’s vital that all bird keepers take action to introduce higher biosecurity standards on their farm or small holdings.’

Elsewhere, a protection zone was also set up in North Yorkshire after birds there were identified to have the H5N1 virus, the BBC reports.

Defra confirmed that the strain of bird flu was found at a property near Leeming Bar, Hambleton, earlier today and that testing is now uderway.

All birds at the site are set to be humanely culled.  

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