Bird flu outbreak at third commercial poultry farm

An outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed at a third large commercial poultry farm in North Yorkshire.

Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 were found at a site near York on 15 January, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

An outbreak of the same strain was found at a site found at a site near Elvington on 24 December and in Bedale in October.

In a statement, Defra said all the birds on the property involved in the latest outbreak would be humanely culled, with a two mile (3km) protection zone and a six mile (10km) surveillance zone put in place around the farm.

All poultry and captive birds within the protection zone must be housed, and all poultry and eggs leaving or entering premises in the surveillance zone must be recorded, Defra stated.

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