An outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed at a farm in Hampshire. However, tests have confimred that the outbreak is a 'low severity' H7 strain, not the 5N8 strain which was discovered at a duck farm in Yorkshire last November. Defra has said that there is no link between the two cases and that 'robust action' was in place to prevent the disease spreading.
A 1km poultry movement restriction zone has been imposed and the birds at the commercial chicken breeding farm will be culled.
Defra has not confirmed the location of the disease but it poses very low risk to human health and PHE has said the Public Food Standards Agency confirmed there was no food safety risk for consumers.
Chief vet Nigel Gibbens said: "We have taken immediate action to contain this outbreak as part of our robust procedures for dealing swiftly with avian flu."
An investigation into the possible sources of the outbreak is under way Defra said anyone suspecting avian influenza should immediately contact their nearest Animal and Plant and Health Agency (APHA) office.
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