A highly pathogenic variant of bird flu has been confirmed on a poultry farm on Holy Island in Northumberland.
The cases of the H5N1 variant were confirmed by the Government's Animal and Plant Health Agency on Wednesday, February 9.
A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been declared around the premises following the outbreak.
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It is understood that the risk to human health is very low. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low.
Avian flu is a notifiable animal disease, meaning if owners suspect any type of avian influenza in poultry or captive birds must be reported to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) immediately. Failure to do so is an offence.
The public are advised to report any dead wild waterfowl such as swans, geese or ducks; or any other dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
The public are urged not to touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds they find. After they are reported, Government agencies will collect the birds and test them to help understand the spread of the disease.
It's not the first outbreak of the disease in the North East this year. The popular Ouseburn Farm in Newcastle closed on January 23 after all 50 of its birds - including chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese - died following an outbreak at the farm.
The majority of birds became unwell that morning and DEFRA tests confirmed they had contracted bird flu. The rest of the flock were humanely culled to limit the risk of the disease spreading to other birds any potential risk to public health.
Like on Holy Island, a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone were also put in place around the premises following the outbreak. The zones remain in place, although Ouseburn Farm has since reopened.
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