Bird flu: Poultry producers urged to tighten protocols after bird flu outbreak in Yorkshire

Animal Health and Plant Agency maps show East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk included in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, which was established to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks.

This means it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers within the zone to "mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease” and to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks, of whatever type or size.

This does not include a requirement to house birds, unless you are also in a 3km protection zone, such as one agency maps show centres near Beswick, between Driffield and Beverley, following an an outbreak of the H5N1 strain on a farm, where all poultry have been culled and from which a 10km surveillance zone was also declared.

It comes just weeks after a 3km protection zone surrounding a farm near Hornsea which saw a similar outbreak of the H5N5 strain of bird flu.

Defra says mandatory biosecurity measures are being kept under constant review and that the risk to human health remains very low. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat, Defra said.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "This means that all bird keepers in these areas must take enhanced biosecurity actions now to both help prevent disease getting in to flocks and stop it spreading any further.

"Bird keepers must exercise robust biosecurity measures, remain alert for any signs of disease and report suspected disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency."

Aled Edwards, head of field delivery at Animal and Plant Health Agency, said its scientists, vets and field teams were "working hard to help tackle the spread of avian influenza and ensure bird keepers are kept up to date and supported".

Julian Sparrey, of animal health firm Livetec Systems, says one of the highest risk points for disease entering a shed is via human movement. “Most know that human biosecurity is crucial, but it’s got to be done properly, or there’s no point in doing it at all,” he said. “You can’t just wash your boots down in disinfectant, you need to change into clean boots and overalls, without contaminating them in the process, to be effective.”

Bird and rodent proofing is also an essential process to minimise the risk of contamination, Mr Sparrey said. Most producers put one inch mesh on all shed entry points during the outbreaks in 2022, but he advises these are checked for damage, as they are likely to have deteriorated over time. He also suggests not only looking at working to eliminate puddles and standing water on the range, but also in farmyards.