England’s veterinary authorities have ramped up security measures across the country to halt or reverse the spread of H5N1, cases of which are on the up.
Experts recently warned the world had taken another step “along the line of panic” as cases spread from birds to cows in the US.
Bird flu risk preventions in place across England
The north of England is now operating under an extended Housing Order, which reaches York and North Yorkshire. This was also extended to Shropshire this morning (27 January).
A housing order remains in force across East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk. Areas with Housing Orders require the strictest levels of biosecurity.
The UK’s chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “Given the continued increase in the number of bird flu cases across England, we are taking further action to try and prevent the further spread of disease.”
She urged the farming industry and bird keepers in general to adhere to the requirements and “remain alert for any signs of disease”.
Scotland has also declared a national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone to “mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and other captive birds”.
Scotland’s deputy chief veterinary officer Jesus Gallego said: “The introduction of this zone is a preventative measure, aimed at minimising the effect that this, often devastating virus, can have on Scottish kept birds.”
Cases confirmed in England, Scotland but not Wales
There were no confirmed cases in Wales, according to the Welsh government.
In a recent interview, bird flu expert Dr Thom Rawson of the Jameel Institute at Imperial College London, warned the virus was showing worrying traits.
“If you’d asked me a year-and-a-half ago about H5N1 crossing over into cattle, I would have said absolutely not possible, cows don’t get this influenza.”
Meanwhile, it was claimed last year bird flu had killed over 50% of the “big cats” at a Washington sanctuary.
