Mostly geese and swans have been found dead in Hyde Park and Kesington Gardens
(Picture: Getty Images)More than 40 birds have been found dead in two London Royal parks as more than 250 avian flu cases are confirmed amid the UK’s biggest ever outbreak.
A total of 256 cases of bird flu have been reported in England since the outbreak began in October 2021, with 136 cases reported in the UK in the last two months.
On Monday an outbreak was confirmed in commercial poultry in Mileham, Norfolk, will all poultry on the premises to be culled. On November 26 avian flu was also detected at commercial poultry premises in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) introduced mandatory housing measures earlier this month in a bid to curb the outbreak.
All bird keepers are legally required to keep their birds indoors and follow stringent biosecurity measures to protect their flocks from the disease, Defra said.
The order extended existing housing measures in the hot spots areas of Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex.
The Government also altered the bird flu compensation scheme to allow compensation to be paid to farmers from the outset of planned culling, rather than at the end.
More than 120 cases have been confirmed in England, contributing to disruption with domestic egg supplies.
The National Farmers Union has called for an urgent Defra investigation into whether an ‘exceptional market conditions’ declaration should be made to support egg producers.
Meanwhile in Lonodn’s Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, more than 40 birds have died, some of which from avian flu.
The outbreak is affecting mostly geese and swans, with other species being moved to separate enclosures.
The public is being urged not to feed the wildlife or handle sick or injured birds themselves.
“Feeding encourages birds to group together which increases the risk of transmission of avian influenza between birds. Dogs should also be on leads near waterbodies and kept away from birds,” Royal Parks said.
It is being reported that the UK has lost up to 40 per cent of free-range turkey flock to bird flu in the weeks before the festive season.
