Avian influenza (bird flu) is a disease of birds. The H5N8 strain of the disease has been found in the UK in farmed and wild birds since December 2016.
Public Health England advises the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said there is no food safety risk for UK consumers.
A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone are currently in place around 2 premises in Thornton, Wyre, Lancashire.
If you keep poultry and captive birds:
H5N8 avian flu remains a threat to poultry and kept birds across the UK and keepers must comply with strict disease prevention measures.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is in place across England. It applies to everyone who keeps poultry or captive birds. This means all keepers – whether they have commercial flocks or a few birds in their back garden – must follow strict rules on biosecurity.
These include minimising your movement in and out of bird enclosures, cleaning footwear, keeping areas where birds live clean and tidy and feeding birds indoors.
