The Government has confirmed H5N8 avian flu in a flock of farmed pheasants at a premises in Preston, Lancashire.
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed (24 January) H5N8 avian flu in a flock of farmed breeding pheasants.
A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
The flock is estimated to contain approximately 10,000 birds. A number have died and the remaining live birds at the premises are being humanely culled. A full investigation is under way to determine the source of the infection.
It comes after Defra confirmed a case of bird flu in a flock of about 6,000 turkeys at a farm in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, on January 16.
Earlier in the month, the strain was also discovered in two small backyard flocks of chickens and ducks on a premises near Settle in North Yorkshire, and Carmarthenshire, south west Wales.
An avian influenza prevention zone was declared on December 6 and will remain in place until February 28.
Public Health England advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency is clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.
Read the latest advice and information on avian flu in the UK, including actions to reduce the risk of the disease spreading, advice for anyone who keeps poultry or captive birds and details of previous cases.
