Highly pathogenic bird flu outbreak confirmed on a South Yorkshire farm for first time in over a year
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed at a South Yorkshire farm for the first time in more than a year.
Defra officials said the outbreak among commercial poultry west of Thorne, near Doncaster, was confirmed on Sunday.
A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared around the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.
The outbreak follows several cases of avian flu being identified across a swathe of North Yorkshire and another outbreak being confirmed at a country park in Rotherham.
A wild bird was found to have the H5N1 strain of the virus at Thrybergh Country Park, according to Rotherham Council, which runs the site.
While the risk to humans remains low, residents were advised by the local authority to take care when walking near open bodies of water at the park and to pay attention to information signs there.
The council added anyone finding a dead bird in a park or public space should not touch or move it and it should be reported immediately, they added.
Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust says the outbreak of avian influenza is the worst the UK has ever experienced, and it is causing unprecedented damage to wild bird populations.
A bird flu housing order came into effect in parts of the north of England - including South Yorkshire - as well as in the east and Midlands at the end of October.