Outbreak of bird flu in covid hotspot Cheshire

Avian influenza of the H5N8 strain has been confirmed at a premises near Frodsham in Cheshire which rears broiler breeder chickens. Testing has now confirmed this is a highly pathogenic strain related to the virus currently circulating in Europe.

A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone have now been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading. These zones replace the Temporary Control Zones put in place on the 2 November 2020.

All 13,500 birds at the farm will be humanely culled to limit the spread of the disease.

This comes as Cheshire West and Chester have been placed in Tier Two lockdown since October 12th, after being classed as at 'high' risk from Covid-19.

This is unrelated to the low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) H5N2 outbreak near Deal, Kent that was confirmed on 2 November.