Suffolk farm to cull 27,000 chickens after cases of bird flu confirmed
A commercial farm in Suffolk is to cull 27,000 chickens after cases of bird flu at the site were confirmed.
A number of birds were found to have the H5 strain of avian flu, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said on Tuesday.
The strain has been identified as "low pathogenic avian flu”, while Public Health England (PHE) has said the risk to public health is very low.
The Food Standards Agency has also said food safety is not at risk.
A 1km exclusion zone has been set up around the farm to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
The UK’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: "Bird keepers should remain alert for any signs of disease, report suspected disease immediately and ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises.
"We are urgently looking for any evidence of disease spread associated with this strain to control and eliminate it.”
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Dr Gavin Dabrera, public health consultant at PHE, added: "Avian flu (often called bird flu) is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public's health is very low.
"As a precaution, we are offering public health advice and antivirals to those who had contact with the affected birds, as is standard practice.”
A detailed investigation is under way to determine the most likely source of the outbreak.
