Official: Bird flu outbreak at British poultry farm

AN outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed at a British farm.

A cull of chickens was continuing yesterday as experts said the outbreak – which began last week – had been identified as the HN strain.

This can infect people, although the risk is low.

An 1.8-mile ‘protection zone’ has been put in place around the Lancashire farm, said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

This restricts the birds that can be taken in and out. Officials added that the chickens were being culled humanely.

The farm, in Goosnargh near Preston, is owned by family busi-

‘Tried and tested approach’

ness Staveleys Eggs. The strain is highly pathogenic, which means it is very contagious and can cause deaths in birds. But it is not the H5N1 strain which killed hundreds of people worldwide.

Chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said: ‘Restrictions put in place will continue and the humane culling of all birds at the site is progressing.

‘Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health from this strain is very low. The Food Standards Agency has said there is no food safety risk for consumers.

‘These actions are part of our tried and tested approach to dealing with previous outbreaks.’

In February, the H N strain was confirmed in chickens at a farm in Hampshire.