Britain orders to keep all poultry in England to fight bird flu | WGN 720 Radio

LONDON (AP) — British authorities said Monday that starting next week, all domestic and other captive birds in England must be kept indoors after bird flu was found on dozens of farms across the country, as well as in wild birds. .

The UK is facing its worst ever bird flu outbreak, with more than 200 confirmed cases since October 2021 and millions of birds destroyed.

The mandatory measures, which come into effect on November 7, require by law all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity rules to protect their birds, whether they are pets, commercial poultry or just a few birds in the backyard.

“This year we are facing the largest outbreak of avian flu on record and a rapid escalation of cases on commercial farms and in poultry across England,” said UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss.

“The risk of keeping birds exposed to disease has reached such a level that it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice,” she added.

The measures have already been in place since late September in areas including Suffolk and Norfolk in eastern England.

Authorities say the public health risk from the virus remains very low.

But the outbreak has raised concerns about turkey supplies for the Christmas season. Earlier this week, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that turkey, goose and duck farmers could slaughter their flocks early, freeze and thaw them for sale at Christmas to reduce the impact of the outbreak on their businesses.