Four new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) have been confirmed in Norfolk, bringing the amount of cases confirmed in the area since the beginning of the month to ten.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) yesterday (Monday, October 10) confirmed the disease at a second and third premises near Mundford, Breckland.
One case was detected in a mixed flock of captive birds. As a result, a 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone was declared around the premises.
The other was confirmed in commercial poultry, where the 3km Protection and 10km Surveillance Zones will apply.
Bird flu was also found in commercial poultry at an eighth site near Attleborough, Breckland, and a second site near Holt in North Norfolk.
A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone were declared around each premises.
All poultry on the affected premises will be humanely culled.
The government has confirmed 22 cases of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in England since October 1, 2022. This date is considered the start of the 2022/2023 bird flu season.
The last season was the UK’s largest-ever outbreak of the disease. It is considered to have started on October 27, and saw 156 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1.
Mandatory housing measures
Mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex are to be introduced on Wednesday (October 12) to help with the spread of the disease.
The housing order, decided by the UK’s chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss, legally requires all bird keepers in the hotspots to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures.
“We are seeing a growing number of bird flu cases on commercial farms and in backyard birds across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, and expect the risk to continue rise over the coming months as migratory birds return to the UK,” Middlemiss said.
“Keepers in these hotspots must continue to follow strict biosecurity standards to protect their flock, and should use the next few days to prepare and move their birds indoors.”
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for Defra to extend the housing measures for poultry and captive birds in east England to the rest of the nation.
The chair of the NFU’s poultry board, James Mottershead, said that these measures are not adequate to stop the spread of bird flu in England.
“The number one priority for poultry farmers has always been the health and welfare of their flock and it’s devastating for any farmer to see that compromised,” he said.
“That is why the NFU is now urging Defra to consider expanding the regional housing measures on a national basis to reflect any increase in the levels of risk across the country.
“We will continue to work with the government and the chief veterinary officer to try to minimise the risk of future outbreaks across the country, and to get on top of this terrible disease,” he said.
