Avian Influenza outbreak another huge blow for farming

News that an outbreak of Avian Influenza has been confirmed on a farm on the Norfolk/Suffolk border is another huge blow to a farming industry already reeling from the effects of foot and mouth and bluetongue, the NFU said today.

A three-kilometre protection zone and a ten-kilometre surveillance zone have been established around the infected premises. Inside these zones bird movements will be restricted and all birds must be isolated from contact with wild birds.

Further tests are being carried out to determine whether or not it is H5N1 and whether the strain is high or low pathogenic.

NFU President Peter Kendall said: "Obviously this is another huge blow to the farming industry, which is still dealing with the effects of bluetongue and foot and mouth, and we will be working closely with Defra to do all we can to contain and eradicate this disease as quickly as possible.

"We fully support the measures Defra have put in place in the protection and surveillance zones and we will be working with them to make sure producers within the zones understand the implications of the restrictions.

"But it is important to remember Avian Influenza is a disease of birds. There is no reason for public concern and the Food Standards Agency says there are no risks from eating poultry meat and eggs provided they are cooked properly as, of course, all food should be."