The UK’s Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed H5N8 avian flu in a small flock of chickens and geese at a premises near Diss, South Norfolk. A 3 km Protection Zone and a 10 km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
The flock is estimated to contain approximately 35 birds. A number have died and the remaining live birds at the premises are being humanely culled. A full investigation is under way to determine the source of the infection.
Defra have published full details of the controls in place. You can use their interactive map to check if you are affected by restrictions around any premises.
Suffolk Trading Standards are providing regular updates via their social media channels, Twitter and Facebook.
Starting from Monday 5th June, Suffolk Trading Standards will be working with their colleagues in Norfolk Trading Standards to visit all premises within the 3km zone.
Read the latest advice and information on avian flu in the UK, including actions to reduce the risk of the disease spreading, advice for anyone who keeps poultry or captive birds and details of previous cases.
Detailed guidance on avian influenza is available on what to do if you keep poultry.
To report suspicion of disease in animals, call the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.
Members of the public should report dead wild birds - such as swans, geese, ducks, gulls or birds of prey - to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
Bird flu can be passed from wild birds to poultry either directly from bird to bird, or indirectly via the environment, for example in wild bird droppings.
The disease can be spread by people, poultry, vehicles and equipment moving between and within farms; by using shared equipment which has not been effectively cleansed and disinfected; by contact with other flocks or by birds of poor or unknown health status being introduced to your flock; by contact with vermin or wild birds; and by birds drinking from contaminated water sources or eating contaminated feed.
Public Health England advises the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency is clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.
You can report non-compliance of the housing and separation requirements to Trading Standards on 01473 264859.