A case of H7N7 avian flu has now been confirmed near Preston, Lancashire.
A temporary control zone imposed last Friday at the affected farm has now been replaced by a 10 kilometre surveillance zone and an inner three kilometre protection zone.
Andrew Large, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, said: “Action is being taken to contain the Avian Influenza and to prevent any possible spread. We are monitoring the situation closely. As ever, poultry farmers are urged to maintain high vigilance and bio-security.”
Avian influenza is a virus that causes disease in birds. Poultry, pigeons and wild or migratory birds, such as ducks, swans, and geese, can become infected with the virus. There are two forms of the virus: high pathogenicity (HPAI) and low pathogenicity (LPAI). Pathogenicity indicates the severity of the disease if the bird contracts the virus.
Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) is usually less serious. It can cause mild breathing problems, but affected birds will not always show clear signs of infection. The severity of LPAI depends on the type of bird and whether it has any other illnesses.
Further information can be found on the Defra website.
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