Newark poultry flock to be culled after bird flu confirmed

Defra confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 at a commercial poultry site north of Langford, near Newark; birds at the site will be humanely culled and protection and surveillance zones have been imposed.

Defra has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 at a commercial poultry site north of Langford, near Newark. The department said birds kept at the site will be humanely culled, and it did not give a total number of birds affected. A protection zone of almost two miles (3km) and an eight-mile (10km) surveillance zone have been placed around the premises. The case follows other recent detections in the Newark area and earlier findings in wild swans on the River Trent. Key points: - HPAI H5N1 was confirmed at a commercial site north of Langford, near Newark. - Birds at the site will be humanely culled; exact numbers were not provided. - A protection zone (~3km) and a surveillance zone (~10km) are in effect around the premises. - Other local detections were reported on 26 December and 31 December, and the virus was found in wild swans in November. - Since October there have been 67 confirmed cases in England and, to 31 December, about 2.02 million poultry or captive birds had died or been culled for disease control purposes. - Scientists report the current risk to humans is low. Summary: The confirmed H5N1 case has led to culling at the affected farm and local movement restrictions and zones have been put in place. Undetermined at this time.