Two more bird flu cases confirmed in Norfolk

Two more cases of bird flu have been found in Norfolk, taking the number of recently confirmed cases in the county to 10.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said following further testing the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus had been confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Hingham, in south Norfolk.

In a statement on its website, Defra announced it had also been confirmed in commercial poultry at another premises in the Attleborough area - bringing the total there to three.

A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been declared around both sites. Defra said all poultry affected would be humanely culled.

Since midday on Monday, all poultry and other captive birds in affected parts of England have had to be kept indoors to prevent the spread of bird flu.

The government order came into force across Norfolk and Suffolk, the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, and Lincolnshire.

The decision was taken by ministers following advice from the United Kingdom's chief veterinary officer.

Earlier this month, Defra announced Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and parts of Yorkshire had been made subject to an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks.

It is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers in the areas to "mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease", it said.

The UK Health Security Agency says bird flu is "primarily a disease of birds" and the risk to the general public is very low.

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