Bird flu detected on duck breeding farm in Yorkshire

There has been an outbreak of bird flu on a British duck breeding farm.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed at least one case of the virus at the farm in the Driffield area of east Yorkshire.

But it insisted the risk to public health was “very low”, and said it was culling all poultry at the stricken farm.

Defra confirmed the outbreak it was investigating was the H5 virus, but said it was not the H5N1 strain, which has caused serious concern in recent years.

It added that laboratory test results were expected early this week.

A Defra spokeswoman said: “We have confirmed a case of avian flu on a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire. The public health risk is very low and there is no risk to the food chain.

View image in fullscreen

“We are taking immediate and robust action which includes introducing a 10km restriction zone and culling all poultry on the farm to prevent any potential spread of infection. A detailed investigation is ongoing.

“We have a strong track record of controlling and eliminating previous outbreaks of avian flu in the UK.”

The NHS website states: “Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious viral illness that spreads among birds. In rare cases it can affect humans.”

A Public Health England spokesman said: “Public Health England are assisting Defra in the investigation of an avian flu outbreak at a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire.

“Based on what we know about this specific strain of avian influenza the risk to human health in this case is considered extremely low.”