All bird keepers in Suffolk ordered to house their animals after further disease findings

All bird keepers in Suffolk have been ordered to house their animals in the wake further bird flu findings.

Defra announced this morning more cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were discovered in poultry and other captive birds in Norfolk.

It added the assessed risk of HPAI in wild birds and poultry had also heightened.

Bird keepers in Suffolk have been ordered to house their birds after further findings of the disease in Norfolk. Picture: Mark Bullimore Photography

As a result, a regional avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity and housing measures has been enforced both in Norfolk and Suffolk.

From midday on Monday, all bird keepers in the county must keep their animals houses to protect them from bird flu.

The measures apply whether a person holds commercial flocks or just a few birds in their garden.

It is hoped these measures will mitigate the risk of further outbreaks.

On Wednesday, SuffolkNews reported a further case of HPAI had been recorded at a farm near Attleborough, the surveillance zone for which breached the Suffolk borded and crept into the edge of Thetford.

Other confirmed cases have been at sites in the Watton, Dereham and Cranworth areas.

In the announcement, Defra also said the restrictions would apply to Lincolnshire, the City of Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/thetford/bird-flu-all-bird-keepers-in-suffolk-ordered-to-house-their-9397287/