Poultry flock to be culled after bird flu outbreak

Poultry are to be culled and restrictions have been brought in after bird flu was confirmed in a flock in Oxfordshire.

The birds in a backyard flock near Bicester were found to have Avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 on Saturday.

A 3km (1.9 mile) captive monitoring zone has been put in place around the premises. It means the movements of captive birds and eggs in the area must be recorded and poultry and other captive birds must be housed.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said all poultry on the premises would be humanely culled.

Avian influenza mainly affects birds and can spread through contact with infected birds or their droppings, dirty footwear, clothing, vehicles and equipment.

England is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ). By law strict biosecurity and hygiene rules must be followed, to stop it spreading.

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