February 20, 2025

 

UK farmer urges vaccination of chickens against bird flu

 

 

An  farmer in East Sussex, England, the United Kingdom, has called for chickens to be vaccinated to ward off bird flu.

 

It comes after avian influenza was detected in Udimore, Rye, last month, which prompted a government order to keep all birds within 1.86 miles (3km) of the site indoors.

 

However, farmer Zoe Chinman said it was difficult to house thousands of birds indoors at the "drop of a hat".

 

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesperson said bird flu had a "devastating impact" on farmers, but "scrupulous biosecurity remained the most critical form of defence in keeping birds safe".

 

Chinman from East Sussex Smallholders, near Lewes, said she would like to see chickens vaccinated against bird flu to have "security". She explained it was difficult for her business, which sells up to 10,000 chickens each year, to house the birds indoors without much notice.

 

The farmer added that outbreaks of influenza and the subsequent restrictions had caused a "massive amount of uncertainty", as birds could not be moved between buyers and sellers.

 

"If we can't sell them because there's a local outbreak it will literally bankrupt us," she told BBC Radio Sussex.

 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public's health is very low.

 

A Defra spokesperson said the government was continuing to invest in the research and development of vaccines through its bird flu vaccination taskforce.

 

All poultry on the premises in Rye where bird flu was detected in January were ordered to be humanely culled by Defra.

 

A 10km surveillance zone was set up, alongside the 3km protection zone.

 

- BBC