Possible risk to Christmas turkey supplies if bird flu continues to spread

The NFU says farmers are doing everything they can amid UK outbreaks

Stock image of Avian Influenza control sign on gate
Author: Andrew Kay and Emma HartPublished 3rd Oct 2022
Last updated 3rd Oct 2022

British farmers say they are doing all they can to ensure supplies of turkeys this Christmas are not at risk because of the "worst avian flu outbreak in UK history".

More than three million birds have been culled in recent months, with the virus found at 155 sites.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone was declared in Cornwall at the end of August, following two confirmed outbreaks in west Cornwall - in wild captive birds at a premises near Newlyn and in poultry at Constantine.

On 8th September, poultry tested positive at a premises in Torpoint and all birds were culled.

Prevention zones are also in force across Norfolk, Suffolk, parts of Essex and the whole of the South West, including the Duchy and Isles of Scilly.

The South West branch of the NFU says calls to their support line have increased recently, as members look to take precautions and protect their livestock.

The disease is carried and spread by wild birds and most farmers are limiting access to their animals as much as possible to help reduce the spread.

Spokesperson David George said: "They're doing as best they can to manage this Avian Influenza outbreak, which is one of the worst I think we've seen for some while. Normally, Avian Influenza tends to recede in the summer months because it's killed by sunlight; that's not happened this year. We've seen outbreaks right the way through.

"Things like the protection zone are useful - it's about all you can do really in the face of Avian Influenza. It's carried by wild birds. Free range producers are at particular risk because their birds are outside.

"They're following very strict guidelines about the biosecurity, making sure they limit the number of people who go in and out, making sure everything's clean, restrictions on the number of people who are able to go in - they're doing the best they can to manage this Avian Influenza outbreak which is one of the worst, I think, we've seen".

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