Bird flu: Outbreak at Driffield poultry farm confirmed

Wednesday 14th February 2024

2 minutes read

Bird flu has been identified in commercial poultry unit near Driffield

The finding of the highly infectious H5N1 strain of the disease was confirmed at a premises near Hutton Cranswick in East Yorkshire today, Wednesday, February 14th 2024

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said: “A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place around the premises.

“All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.”

In the United Kingdom, the following number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed since 1 October 2023:

4 cases in England
2 cases in Scotland
0 cases in Wales
0 cases in Northern Ireland

There was one confirmed case of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H7N3. This case was confirmed in Scotland on 20 March 2023.

A three kilometre protection zone and a 10 kilometre surveillance zone had been put in around the premises.

In 3km protection zones and 3km temporary control zones, bird owners must

– follow the rules for 10km surveillance zones and 10km temporary control zones

– keep poultry and other captive birds housed – find out how to house them safely

– follow the instructions from your veterinary inspector to dispose of any bird carcasses

– not spread poultry litter, manure or slurry, or remove them from your premises

– not move poultry or other captive birds onto or off your premises without a licence (there are exceptions for pets)

– not move eggs without a licence (you can move table eggs to wholesale or retail premises to be sold directly to consumers)

– not move poultry meat inside or outside the zone, unless you follow the rules in the case declaration

If you’re in a 10km surveillance zone or a 10km temporary control zone, you must:

– keep a record of all poultry or poultry eggs that enter or leave your premises, except table eggs that are being moved direct to wholesale or retail premises to be sold directly to consumers

– not move poultry, other captive birds, or mammals (including pigs) to or from premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept without a licence (there are exceptions for pets)

– not spread poultry litter, manure or slurry, or remove them from your premises