Suspected bird flu outbreak at Goosnargh poultry farm

11 July 2015 by
Suspected bird flu outbreak at Goosnargh poultry farm

A cull of 170,000 birds is expected to take place at an unnamed Goosnargh farm, following reports of a suspected bird flu outbreak.

According to the http://www.lep.co.uk/news/environment/environment/update-cull-of-170-000-birds-at-lancashire-farm-in-suspected-bird-flu-outbreak-1-7353137" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Lancashire Evening Post, a 10km temporary control zone has been set up around Goosnargh, banning the movement of all animals from the farm and other poultry farms in the zone.

Goosnargh poultry is celebrated and sourced by many chefs in Britain.

Commenting on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website, chief vet Nigel Gibbens said the advice from Public Health England is that the risk to public health is very low. The Food Standards Agency has said there is no food safety risk for consumers.

Gibbons added: "I would urge bird keepers to be vigilant for any signs of disease, report suspect disease to their nearest APHA office and to ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises."

Farmers across the county were placed on alert when DEFRA issued a temporary movement restriction notice late on Friday afternoon.

The decision to take precautionary action has been taken based on the clinical symptoms displayed by birds at the farm and emerging laboratory findings. The investigation into the suspect case and laboratory tests are ongoing.

The last confirmed cases of avian influenza were a low severity case of H7N7 in February, found in chickens at a farm in Hampshire, and a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 in ducks on premises in East Yorkshire last November. All movement restrictions following these outbreaks have been lifted.

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