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170000+ birds to be culled at
Lancashire poultry farm near Preston
DUE to suspected case of avian
flu (bird flu) being found at a poultry farm, run by Staveleys Eggs
Limited, Environmental Health Officials have locked down the area around
a poultry farm on the outskirts of Preston. The family, based in Coppull,
Lancashire, have 170,000 birds, including around 50,000 free range
laying hens and has been left devastated by it. All the birds are being
culled on Saturday, 10 July 2015, as a precaution, but Public Health
England say the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards
Agency say there is no food safety risk. As a result the Environmental
Health Officials have locked down the area around a poultry farm on the
outskirts and a 10km temporary control zone has been set up around the
premises in the Grimsargh and Longridge area, meaning no poultry or
other animals may be moved in this area.
Chief Vet, Nigel Gibbens has told the press that:- "We have taken
swift precautionary action to limit the risk of disease spreading from
the poultry farm. These measures that are now in place are to control
the movement of poultry and humanely cull birds at the farm are part of
our tried and tested approach to deal with such incidents. I would urge
bird keepers to be vigilant for any signs of disease, report suspect
disease to their nearest APHA office and to ensure they are maintaining
good bio security on their premises. The decision to take precautionary
action has been taken based on the clinical symptoms displayed by birds
at the farm and emerging laboratory findings. The investigation into the
suspect case and laboratory tests is ongoing. We have a strong track
record of controlling and eliminating previous outbreaks of avian flu in
the UK. The outbreaks in Yorkshire last year and Hampshire in February
were both successfully contained, allowing restrictions to be lifted at
the earliest opportunity."
Anyone suspecting avian flu (bird flu) should immediately contact their
nearest Animal and Plant and Health Agency (APHA) office that can be
found
online.
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