Bird Flu Confirmed in Suffolk and Cumbria
New cases of bird flu have been confirmed in Suffolk and Cumbria, prompting strict control zones and mass culling of poultry to stop the spread of the virus.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the H5N1 strain was detected at a commercial site near Lakenheath, Suffolk, on Sunday. All birds on the premises will be culled, and both a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone have been established around the area. These restrictions will stay in place until further notice.
It’s the first confirmed case in the East of England since August, when an outbreak was reported near Attleborough in Norfolk. Defra said the risk to the public remains very low, but warned people not to touch or move any dead or sick wild birds.
Further north, bird flu has also been found at another large commercial site near Penrith in Cumbria — the second outbreak in the area in as many weeks. More than 10,000 birds were already culled following a previous case nearby, and Wetheral, near Carlisle, was also affected last month.
As in Suffolk, a 3km protection zone has been set up, with an additional 10km surveillance zone to monitor nearby premises. Within these zones, poultry and captive birds must be kept indoors, and strict movement rules apply. Poultry, eggs, and waste cannot be moved without a licence from a veterinary inspector — though table eggs can still be sold directly to consumers.
Defra reminded bird keepers to follow all biosecurity guidance, including keeping birds housed and properly disposing of carcasses. Avian flu can cause severe illness and high death rates in poultry, often spread by migrating wild birds. While it can infect humans, such cases are rare.
Authorities say they’re monitoring the situation closely as the winter migration season — when the virus tends to spread more easily — begins.
