Bird flu found at Herefordshire farm – latest Government update

Avian influenza, known more commonly as bird flu, was found at one of Corbett Farms' sites in Shobdon, near Leominster, at the beginning of December.

It lead to a raft of new measures being enforced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) within a 10-mile radius to prevent it spreading.

The farm, Ox House Farm in Ledicot Lane, confirmed bird flu – the H5N1 strain – had been found and the Animal and Plant Health Agency was on site to decide how best to handle the disease.

The agency, part of Defra, works to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy.

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The two zones, which have since been removed, covered aspects such as the movement of birds and eggs, the removal of litter, manure and slurry, and other biosecurity measures.

The measures came into force at 9pm on December 2 after being approved by the Secretary of State at 8.45pm, but were removed on Friday (January 14).

However, the whole of the UK is still covered by avian influenza prevention zones, which require bird keepers to take measures to try and stop the disease's spread.

Those UK-wide measures include housing or netting all poultry and captive birds to keep them separate from wild birds, and disinfecting clothing and equipment.

And in areas where cases are found, tougher rules are introduced for a three and 10-mile radius.

At the time, the farm, which is in Avara Foods' supply chain, said that it was going to support whatever course of action was recommended.

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The Government website said all birds would be killed at the farm.

According to planning documents previously submitted by Corbett Farms to Herefordshire Council, up to 12,000 chickens are housed there.

The NHS said the strain, which has been found at dozens of farms across the country, including at a turkey farm in Clifford, near Hay-on-Wye, does not infect people easily.