Bird flu confirmed in commercial poultry flock near York

Defra has said the strain, of highly pathogenic avian influenza, was confirmed on Christmas Eve.

A protection zone has now been set up towards the Elvington area, measuring 3km wide, and with a 10km surveillance zone in place. All poultry on premises will be humanely culled, Defra has said.

Further cases have been confirmed near Newark on Trent in recent days, and in Worcestershire and Scotland.

Earlier outbreaks were confirmed at a premises near Thirsk in North Yorkshire in November, with safety zones set up by experts. These have also now been revoked, Defra confirmed, with the disease control measures put in place deemed to have been successful.

The first cases of the HPAI H5N1 virus in this latest outbreak were found in England on October 11, with 64 cases since confirmed nationwide.

A mandatory housing order was set up by the UK's chief veterinary officer in November as the number of cases continued to rise. The measures mean birds must be housed if they are kept in flocks of more than 50, or if they sell or give eggs away.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has advised that bird flu is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also stressed that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for consumers, and properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.