November 8, 2024

Bird flu confirmed in Yorkshire, UK poultry farm, country raises risk level to high

The UK government confirmed an outbreak of bird flu in commercial poultry at a farm in Yorkshire, just hours after raising the national risk level for the disease from medium to high.

In response to the outbreak, all poultry at the affected premises will undergo humane culling, according to a government statement. Additionally, a 3 km protection zone has been established around the infected area to prevent further spread.

Bird flu, scientifically known as avian influenza, has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of millions of birds worldwide in recent years. Its recent spread to mammals has prompted concerns about the possibility of the virus adapting for human-to-human transmission.

The decision to increase the risk level followed the detection of two strains, H5N5 and H5N1, in wild birds across the country during the autumn, as noted in a government update on November 5, 2024.

The UK government had previously raised the threat level to medium in mid-October amid rising cases. The country has experienced a series of bird flu outbreaks over the years, including a notable event in 2021, which was reported as the largest outbreak of avian influenza in the nation's history.

As monitoring efforts continue, officials remain on alert to mitigate the risks of further spread among bird populations and potential transmission risks.

-      Reuters