Bird flu: Poultry keepers in Suffolk and Norfolk ordered to house animals after further disease findings

All bird keepers in Norfolk and Suffolk have been ordered to house their animals in the wake further bird flu findings.

Defra announced this morning more cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were discovered in poultry and other captive birds in Norfolk.

It added the assessed risk of HPAI in wild birds and poultry had also heightened.

As a result, a regional avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity and housing measures has been enforced both in Norfolk and Suffolk.

From midday on Monday, all bird keepers in the county must keep their animals houses to protect them from bird flu.

The measures apply whether a person holds commercial flocks or just a few birds in their garden.

It is hoped these measures will mitigate the risk of further outbreaks.

On Wednesday, a further case of HPAI at a farm near Attleborough was recorded, the surveillance zone for which breached the Suffolk border and the edge of Thetford.

Other confirmed cases have been at sites in the Watton, Dereham and Cranworth areas.

In the announcement, Defra also said the restrictions would apply to Lincolnshire, the City of Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire.