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For the 5th time this month DEFRA has announced an outbreak of HPAI in the UK. Today's outbreak is the third to hit Lincolnshire this winter, and is the second UK outbreak reported this week.
Avian flu confirmed at a farm near Boston, Lincolnshire
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed H5N8 avian flu at a premises near Boston, Lincolnshire
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed H5N8 avian flu at a turkey rearing farm near Boston, Lincolnshire.
A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
The flock is estimated to contain approximately 19,500 birds. A number have died and the remaining live birds at the premises will be humanely culled. A full investigation is under way to determine the source of the infection.
Public Health England advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency is clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.
Read the latest advice and information on avian flu in the UK, including actions to reduce the risk of the disease spreading, advice for anyone who keeps poultry or captive birds and details of previous cases. Journalists with queries should contact Defra press office.
Latest situation
The H5N8 strain of the disease has been confirmed at a commercial game farm in Lancashire, at three separate poultry farms in Lincolnshire and in backyard flocks in North Yorkshire and Carmarthenshire.
Restrictions remain in place at the following sites:
Restrictions have now been lifted at the following sites:
- Boston, Lincolnshire (confirmed on 26 January 2017)
- Wyre, Lancashire (confirmed on 24 January 2017)
- East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (confirmed on 16 January 2017)
- Settle, North Yorkshire (confirmed on 6 January 2017)
- Carmarthenshire, Wales (confirmed on 4 January 2017)
Check if you are covered by these restrictions using our interactive map.
- Louth, Lincolnshire (confirmed on 16 December, all restrictions lifted 18 January)
The same strain has also been found in wild birds in England, Scotland and Wales. We publish a list of cases where we find avian influenza in wild birds.
H5N8 has been circulating in wild birds in Europe for several months – you can read more on the situation in Europe in the latest veterinary outbreak assessment.
