Bird flu restrictions imposed across four counties

Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and parts of Yorkshire have been made subject to avian flu restrictions.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) had been established to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.

It said bird flu had recently been detected across the East Riding of Yorkshire and in Hull.

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.

Cases have been detected at six premises in England - three in Norfolk, two in Yorkshire and one in Cornwall.

The risk to human health remains very low and properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat, Defra said.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "This means that all bird keepers in these areas must take enhanced biosecurity actions now to both help prevent disease getting in to flocks and stop it spreading any further.

"Bird keepers must exercise robust biosecurity measures, remain alert for any signs of disease and report suspected disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency."

Aled Edwards, head of field delivery at Animal and Plant Health Agency, said its scientists, vets and field teams were "working hard to help tackle the spread of avian influenza and ensure bird keepers are kept up to date and supported".

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