Third case of bird flu in Norfolk detected at farm

A third case of bird flu has been confirmed in Norfolk.

The government's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) said highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected at a poultry farm in Dereham.

Two cases had previously been confirmed 10 miles (16km) away in Watton.

The government said all poultry would be humanely culled, and a protection zone cordon stretching 3km (nearly two miles) has been put in place around the latest site, with a 10km (about six miles) surveillance zone also set up.

As part of the latest outbreak, two strains of bird flu have been detected at six premises in England - three in Norfolk, two in Yorkshire and one in Cornwall.

A spokesperson for the APHA said: "All bird keepers should remain vigilant and follow stringent biosecurity measures to prevent future outbreaks."

The virus - which affects poultry and wild birds - has been around for a century, usually flaring up in autumn and fading away in spring and summer.

It spreads through birds' droppings and saliva, or through contaminated feed and water.

The virus led to millions of infected birds being culled between 2021 and 2023.

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

The Food Standards Agency said bird flu posed a very low food safety risk to humans.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.