'Bird Flu Case May Not Be Isolated'
Farmers around the country have been told to be on alert after a case of bird flu was confirmed at a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there is at least one case at the farm, which Sky sources understand is in Nafferton, but insist the risk to public health is "very low".
Nigel Gibbens, the Chief Veterinary Officer, has told Sky News it's possible it may not be an isolated incident.
"We have to recognise that the first case we find is not necessarily the first case that has occurred, which is why we put restrictions on the zone around the affected farm and look hard around there," he said.
It is the first serious case of bird flu in the UK since 2008.
The entire flock at the farm - about 6,000 ducks - will be culled as a result, and a 3km protection zone has been put in place around the premises.
It means no animal movements will be allowed, except when they are taken away to be slaughtered, to stop the virus spreading.
In addition, a 10km surveillance zone is also in place, closely monitoring any spread of the outbreak.
In both zones, disinfection of people, vehicles and machinery moving around farms will be increased while the movement of animals, feed and bedding is forbidden except under licence.
A Defra spokesperson said: "The public health risk is very low and there is no risk to the food chain.
"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 farmer, Jono Dixon, told Sky News: "We've got Christmas four weeks away and I know that these guys will be gearing up for the Christmas market.
"There's some big turkey farms in East Yorkshire as well as lots of turkeys produced in this area, and you know how that's going to affect them."
Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious viral illness that spreads among birds. In rare cases it can affect humans.
There are 16 different avian flu types. The H5N1 strain is the one that causes the most concern because it is the most virulent and deadliest.
H5N1 has killed more than 400 people, mainly in southeast Asia, since first appearing in 2003.
Another strain, H7N9, has claimed more than 170 lives since emerging in 2013.
Defra said the type discovered at the duck farm is H5 - but not H5N1. The exact strain will be confirmed after final test results due today.
Dutch officials have banned the transport of poultry in the Netherlands after the discovery of the H5N8 strain, and officials in the UK believe the outbreak in Yorkshire may be linked to Germany and the Netherlands.
Sky News
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