Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 (bird flu) has been confirmed in poultry at a second premises near Tiverton, Mid Devon in Devon.
As per protocol, a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the premises and all poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.
This outbreak follows three others in Devon since the beginning of August.
On August 7, HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Cullompton, Devon; on August 9, it was confirmed at a second premises near Cullompton, also in commercial poultry; and on August 5, HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a premises near Ashburton, Teignbridge in Devon.
And, as mentioned, it is the second premises in Tiverton to confirm an outbreak; HPAI H5N1 was confirmed on July 8, in captive birds near Tiverton.
However, following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the first Tiverton zone, the 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been revoked.
These cases in Devon comprise five out of the six disease control zones in force in England.
The sixth in is Bedfordshire, where HPAI H5N1 was confirmed on July 27, in captive birds (non-poultry).
The advice to curb the spread of the disease, as always, is to maintain strict biosecurity measures on-farm.
And, do not touch sick or dead wild birds and report any of these to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; bird flu is a notifiable disease.
