Thousands of birds are being slaughtered after H5N1 avian flu was confirmed in turkeys on a Norfolk farm (13 November). Defra has confirmed the highly pathogenic strain was found in turkeys near Diss on the Norfolk and Suffolk border. A 3km protection zone, 10km surveillance zone and a wider restricted zone have been set up.
13/11/07 - H5N1 avian flu confirmed in poultry (Defra news release)
13/11/07 - Avian flu and kept birds: Defra advice
12/11/07 - Additional restrictions put in place after avian flu outbreak (Defra news release)
12/11/07 - H5 avian flu confirmed in turkeys in Norfolk (Defra news release)
Defra has put in place temporary control zones around the affected farm - click here to view the declaration of the zones and a map of the affected area or click here for an interactive map.
A guide from Defra on the possible impact of avian flu on the countryside - to view this report click here.
Background briefing sheets on the major issues relating to avian flu and shooting such as compensation and biosecurity.
All the latest background information on food safety, shoot cancellation insurance, biosecurity plans and new regulations.
A guide on how to report "die-offs" of wild birds to the Defra helpline
1. The first case of H5N1 bird flu in the UK was confirmed on April 06 2006. Tests revealed that a whooper swan found dead in Cellardyke in Fife was carrying the H5N1 strain of the virus. As there had been no new cases of H5N1 in the following 21 days the protection and surveillance zones as well as the wild bird risk area were lifted.
2. On 28 April 2006, H7N3 Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza was confirmed on a poultry farm in Dereham, Norfolk. On 29 April tests provided positive results for avian influenza in chickens on two further poultry farms near Dereham, Norfolk. The two restriction zones surrounding the three premises in Norfolk where low pathogenic H7N3 avian flu was found were lifted in May.
3. The first case of H5N1 bird flu in British poultry for 15 years was confirmed on a turkey farm in Suffolk on 03 February 2007. Nearly 160,000 turkeys were gassed to contain the outbreak at the Bernard Matthews site near Lowestoft. The restrictions around the site were lifted in early March.
4. On 23 May 2007, a case of H7N2 low pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in Corwen, Conwy, North Wales. A 1km restriction zone was put in place around the infected premises, in line with the avian influenza Directive. On 15 June, the Declaration made on 24 May was revoked and all restrictions around the premises were lifted.
5. On 07 June 2007, tests provided positive results for low pathogenic avian influenza in poultry on a non-commercial small holding near St Helens, Merseyside. Birds at the holding were purchased from the same market held in Chelford on Monday 7 May associated with the outbreak of H7N2 low pathogenic avian influenza in Conwy, North Wales. On 03 July, the Declaration made on 07 June was revoked and all restrictions around the premises were lifted.
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