Bird flu cases confirmed at Suffolk farm

Confirmation of cases of bird flu at a commercial chicken farm in Suffolk will see the culling of 27,000 birds.

A 1km restriction zone has also been put in place around the farm where the H5 strain has been found, to prevent the spread of the disease.

Public Health England has said the risk to public health is very low with the Food Standards Agency adding that bird flu dos not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

Chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said officials are “urgently looking for any evidence of disease spread associated with this strain to control and eliminate it”.

Dr Gavin Dabrera, public health consultant for Public Health England, added: “Avian flu (often called bird flu) is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low.

“As a precaution, we are offering public health advice and antivirals to those who had contact with the affected birds, as is standard practice. A detailed investigation is in progress to determine the most likely source of this outbreak.”