Doncaster Lakeside: Dead animals found at Yorkshire beauty spot test positive for bird flu
City of Doncaster Council is working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency following confirmation of a bird flu outbreak at a lake.
Council officers said “relevant health and safety measures" were being introduced after dead birds found at Doncaster Lakeside tested positive for avian influenza.
A spokesperson for the council said it was also working with individuals and organisations that keep birds and was placing signs in key areas to warn the public.
The HPAI H5N1 strain of bird flu has recently been confirmed in commercial poultry near Little Kelk, north east of Driffield, which saw a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone declared around the premises and all poultry there humanely culled.
The Doncaster outbreak follows others in recent weeks near Thorne, in South Yorkshire and four in North Yorkshire. The arrival of wild birds which migrate to the UK for winter is expected to exacerbate the situation. The UK Health Security Agency has issued advice for people not to touch or pick up dead or sick birds and to avoid bird droppings.
A national mandatory housing order was brought into force in England earlier this month to protect poultry and other captive birds after an increase in cases.
Government figures have forecast the culls will lead to restricted supplies of turkeys, chickens and ducks for the festive season.