Avian Influenza - Latest news

Update 18:00 15 November

Defra has today made available general licences to address immediate issues relating to the movement of bird by-products and mammals in the zones in place for Avian Influenza.

The national ban on bird gatherings and movement restrictions in the zones remain firmly in place. It is essential that poultry keepers are vigilant in checking their birds and report signs of notifiable disease immediately.

Also today, the decision has been taken to reclassify the cull at one of the four dangerous contacts premises identified yesterday to a slaughter on suspicion of Avian Influenza. Samples have been taken for laboratory testing.

A full epidemiological investigation is underway and all avenues into the origin of this outbreak are being investigated. Surveillance of poultry premises is underway, surveillance of wild birds has been increased in Norfolk and Suffolk and the national targeted wild bird surveillance programme is ongoing.