Bird flu outbreak near Belford prompts cull of free-range hens
Free-range hens at a commercial poultry farm in Northumberland are to be culled after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed
A three-kilometre protection zone and a ten-kilometre surveillance zone has been set up around the property near Belford - with strict restrictions on poultry movements now in place.
It's understood to be the first this season in England to confirm that the (HPAI) H5N1 virus has infected its poultry.
A different strain, (HPAI) H5N5, was previously identified in a flock of commercial backyard poultry in Ness on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
And it's prompting renewed warnings for poultry keepers to protect their flocks ahead of winter.
The surveillance zone for the latest outbreak stretches close to the Farne Islands, which is renowned for its wild bird population. And visitors are being urged to report any sick or dead animals.
A spokesperson for the Animal and Plant Health Agency said: "All bird keepers must remain vigilant and follow stringent biosecurity measures, in addition to following any Protection/Surveillance Zone restrictions in their area to prevent future outbreaks."
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