Relief for poultry owners across East Anglia as bird flu restrictions to ease
A farmer in Norfolk is calling for a bird flu vaccine
Last updated 12th Apr 2023
A Norfolk poultry farmer has told us that vaccines against bird flu are the best way to stop the disease spreading.
It's after the government announced that owners will be allowed to keep their flock outside once again, from next Tuesday.
Bird owners have had to keep their flocks inside since November last year, as the country faced its largest outbreak of the disease to date, with over 330 cases confirmed across the country since late October 2021.
Mark Gorton is the managing director of Traditional Norfolk Poultry, based in Shropham: "We don't know why the disease has slowed down so much since Christmas, we don't know if it will come back next year - we just have to be ready and be flexible...
"Behind the scenes, there's lots of work going on to develop a vaccine - once we can do that, it will take lots of pressure off and will hopefully be the end of housing orders and risks from bird flu.
"It's probably still two years away, but it's positive steps."
Dr Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, said:
“Whilst the lifting of the mandatory housing measures will be welcome news to bird keepers, scrupulous biosecurity remains the most critical form of defence to help keep your birds safe.
“It is thanks to the hard work of all bird keepers and vets who have played their part in keeping flocks safe this winter that we are in a position to take this action.
"However, the unprecedented nature of this outbreak has proven it’s more important than ever for bird keepers to remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent standards of biosecurity.”
The enhanced biosecurity requirements that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) will remain in force as infection may still be circulating in the environment for several more weeks.