Bird flu outbreak at Lancashire farm

The UK Government has confirmed a second outbreak of bird flu within two days upon a Lancashire farm.

The H5N8 strain of avian flu was diagnosed in a small backyard flock of chickens and ducks at the farm near Thornton-Cleveleys, Wyre, Lancashire.

It comes after a number of birds in a flock of about 30 chickens died at a farm near Thornton on Thursday.

A Defra spokeswoman said: “The flock contains nine birds.

“A number had died and the remaining live birds at the premises will be humanely culled.

“A full investigation is under way to determine the source of the infection”.

Government officials confirmed a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

Public Health England made assurances that the risk to public health from the virus was very low and the Food Standards Agency said it did not pose a food safety risk.

Defra had only recently decided to relax the Avian Flu Prevention Zones and a ban on poultry gatherings, which are set to be lifted across England from Monday next week.

The Government still advises keepers to follow industry standard best practice on biosecurity, including minimising movement in and out of bird enclosures, cleaning footwear, keeping areas where birds live clean and tidy and feeding birds indoors.

Prior to the outbreaks over the weekend, the most recent case of H5N8 in poultry in England had previously been confirmed on February 24; while the last finding in wild birds was on March 10.

Defra has only recently decided to relax the Avian Flu Prevention Zones.