Avara Foods have this afternoon confirmed that all chickens on the farm affected by Bird Flu near Leominster will be killed.
A decision has been made to kill the birds prior to finding out the pathogenicity because of the large number of farms in the area that could become affected.
The news was confirmed yesterday in a statement released by The Government. Statement below:
A third case of bird flu has been detected in England at a premises near Leominster in Herefordshire. This comes after two other cases were discovered last week in England. The latest case in broiler breeder chickens follows those found in Cheshire and Kent on 2nd November.
Birds are being culled and control zones have been put in place, the government confirmed in a document released yesterday. You can access this by visiting –
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Declaration of a Temporary Control Zone (Avian Influenza)
1) The Secretary of State has considered the findings of veterinary inquiries at a premises where avian influenza is suspected, in accordance with article 13(c) of the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No 2) Order 20061 (“the Order”).
2) The Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed the presence of H5N8 avian influenza in England.
3) To reduce the risk of the transmission of avian influenza, the Secretary of State declares as a Temporary Control Zone the areas around the premises described in Annex 1 (Zone A) and in Annex 2 (Zone B) to this Declaration in which the respective measures set out in Schedules 4 and 5 to the Order (as replicated in Annexes 1 and 2) apply.
4) The Temporary Control Zone areas A and B are marked on the map in Annex 3.
5) These measures apply from 12.30 on 11 November 2020 until this Declaration is withdrawn or amended by further declaration.
Authorities say they are taking “immediate and robust action” after the H5N8 strain was found in Herefordshire and Cheshire, and H5N2 was confirmed in Kent. This comes after several outbreaks were confirmed across Europe.
According to the NHS the H5N8 strain has not infected any humans worldwide to date, while H5N6 hasn’t infected anyone in the UK and doesn’t spread from humans to birds easily.
A temporary control zone has been put in place. (See map below)
