September 2, 2022

Bird flu detected in Cornwall, South West England

The UK Animal and Plant Health Authority said the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus has been detected in poultry in Cornwall, located in South West England, BBC News reported.

The government agency said all of the poultry on the property would be humanely killed.

Following positive test results, a 10km (6 mile) surveillance zone and a 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone were established around the site.

The most recent confirmation in Cornwall comes as Paignton Zoo in Devon also deals with bird flu following the discovery of a dead pelican on Sunday, forcing the closure of the zoo ever since.

Near Newlyn, bird flu has also been identified at a facility housing captive wild birds.

On the Isles of Scilly, corpses of seabirds thought to have perished from the virus have also been discovered.

Birds can contract the highly contagious H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus by coming into close contact with an infected bird, whether it is alive or dead.

According to the website of the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, the virus primarily affects birds and poses a very low risk to human health.

-      BBC News