2 weeks Ago
Poultry will be culled and a 10km surveillance zone will be put in place around a premises near Blaydon and Consett, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed yesterday (March 26). Bird flu, also known as Avarian flu an (HPAI) H5N1 can cause symptoms of lethargy, swelling, unresponsiveness and even sudden death. It can be carried by birds including ducks, geese and swans - who can show no symptoms of carrying the disease but can still spread it.
A notice on the DEFRA site reads: "Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a premises near Blaydon, Blaydon and Consett, Durham (AIV 2025/31). "A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared around the premises. All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.
" According to the Government, the risk of bird flu in wild birds is "very high" as owners are warned to discourage mixing with wild birds and keep their cages clean. Recommended: This news comes just days after a sheep in Yorkshire was reported to have contracted the flu - the first of its kind. The sheep case was identified by milk testing following surveillance of livestock where avian influenza H5N1 had been confirmed in captive birds.
The infected sheep was humanely culled and no further infection was detected in the remaining flock, the Government said..
