Bird flu confirmed in Suffolk breeding rearer unit which houses 23,000 birds

The affected premises is estimated to contain approximately 23,000 broilers in a housed unit
The affected premises is estimated to contain approximately 23,000 broilers in a housed unit

The Government has confirmed a case of avian flu at a premises near Redgrave, Suffolk.

The UK’s Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer has today (13 February) announced an initial 10km Temporary Control Zone around a poultry premises near Redgrave, in the district of mid-Suffolk, following investigation into a suspected case of Avian Influenza where laboratory analysis has identified the presence of H5N8.

The affected premises is estimated to contain approximately 23,000 broilers in a housed unit.

A number have died and it has been decided to humanely cull the remaining birds.

Further investigations continue into the nature of the virus detected and to establish the possible source of the infection.

Further investigations continue into the nature of the virus and its origin. The controls (an inner 3km Zone A and an outer 10 km Zone B) are equivalent to those which would apply in the 3km Prevention Zone and the 10km Surveillance Zone around a confirmed case of avian influenza.

Breeding rearer farm

A spokesperson for Banham Group Ltd, who manages the farm, said: “The affected farm does not produce meat and is instead a breeding rearer farm.

“The infection was confirmed after we notified Defra following increasing mortality in one of our flocks. They will now be humanely culled by the authorities in accordance with EU legislation.

“The specific strain of influenza has yet to be identified and further tests will need to be carried out by the authorities before this can be confirmed.

“Birds at our other farms appear healthy and there is no evidence of any spread of infection. All of our staff are trained in biosecurity management and we are ensuring that the controls that are in place are rigourously followed. We will continue to cooperate with the authorities to ensure that the situation remains under control.”

This is the same strain which was found in a pheasant farm in Lancashire on 30 January, in a turkey farm in Boston, Lincolnshire on 26 January, in a flock of farmed pheasants at a premises in Preston, Lancashire on 24 January, in a backyard flock in North Yorkshire on 6 January, in Carmarthenshire, Wales, on 3 January, at a turkey farm in Lincolnshire on 16 December and in a number of wild birds across England, Wales and Scotland.