UK Chief Vet warns Teesside bird owners to take action against bird flu
A warmer November may have caused infected birds to stay longer
The UK's chief vet is warning poultry keepers across Teesside and County Durham to take urgent action now or risk losing flocks to bird flu.
The stark warning comes as the UK faces its largest ever outbreak of bird flu - with 60 confirmed cases across the country and 12 infected premises in around the region.
William Maughan is Chair for the National Farmers Union (NFU) in our region he says everyone needs to be vigilant - not just farmers.
"It's for people that have a few hens in the garden, people who have show birds or a few ducks", said William.
"It's important that everyone realises that we can do our bit by keeping them in and protecting your own birds, keeping them under cover away from wild birds, and keep them in pens.
"Generally it's migrating birds that bring it into the country and cause the issue. The migratory patterns have been a bit different this time, and the birds that have been plotting all the country are coming here to stop have carried the disease with them.
"We've had a very mild November, so I think the birds stayed around longer than they normally would.