Poultry keepers in Norfolk urged to act to prevent bird flu outbreak

The Government has introduced a nationawide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading, following three confirmed cases on poultry farms in England and the discovery of wild birds with the disease.

So far cases have been reported on farms in Kent, Herefordshire and Cheshire.

Wild birds found dead in the South West have also tested positive for the disease.

The prevention zone requires all bird keepers, both commercial and non-commercial, to discourage contact with wild birds by taking steps including netting ponds, removing wild bird food sources, and feeding poultry in enclosed areas.

They must also clean and disinfect footwear and concrete areas.

The NFU say anyone with more than 500 birds must follow additional measures, including restricting access for non-essential people to their sites.

NFU Regional Poultry Board Chairman, Tom Wornham, said:

"We welcome this as a proportionate move by the Government, given the risk posed by migratory wild birds to commercial poultry.

“East Anglia is a hugely important region for poultry farming and we are in a critical stage in the run-up to Christmas. We must do everything we can to avoid an outbreak here that could have serious consequences for individual farms and the wider industry.

“I would ask everyone, whether you have a few birds or a few thousand birds, to follow these rules so we can protect all poultry from this highly infectious disease.”

The East of England is home to more than a fifth of the country's poultry farms, with the regional value of poultry meat £557 million in 2018.

The region also produces about 10% of England's eggs and 40% of England's turkeys.

• bird flu
• norfolk
• NFU