A 3km wide protection zone has been declared and come into force at 5pm today (18th October 2025) after the Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed a case of Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 - bird flu was confirmed a large commercial poultry premises near Penrith today 18th October.
Alongside the 3Km protection zone, The Secretary of State has declared a 10km surveillance zone has been declared around the premises
A Defra spokesperson said: "This was a commercial flock with more than 10,000 birds”. "All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled."
Bird flu can cause severe disease and death in poultry. It is often spread through wild birds, the disease can be transmitted to humans but incidents are rare.
The key rules for the 3km protection zone that covers most of Penrith:
Keep poultry and other captive birds housed
Follow the instructions from your veterinary inspector to dispose of any bird carcasses
Not spread poultry litter, manure or slurry, or remove them from your premises
Not move poultry or other captive birds onto or off your premises without a licence (there are exceptions for pets)
Not move eggs without a licence (you can move table eggs to wholesale or retail premises to be sold directly to consumers)
Not move poultry meat inside or outside the zone
By law, those with poultry or other captive birds must follow the rules for the disease control zone they are in. The control zones are put in place around the premises to stop it spreading when a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (the most serious type of bird flu) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds.
The occupier of any premises in the zone must make a record of all poultry entering or leaving those premises as soon as reasonably practicable after the movement.
Record of poultry and egg movements, any person who is engaged in the transport or marketing of poultry or poultry eggs in the zone must make a record as soon as reasonably practicable of all poultry and poultry eggs transported or marketed by them.
The occupier of premises in the zone where poultry or other captive birds are kept must ensure that they are housed; or kept isolated
If birds are kept isolated but not housed, the occupier must ensure that they have no contact with poultry or other captive birds on other premises; and take all reasonable steps to minimise their contact with wild birds,
Restrictions on the movement of poultry, no person shall move poultry, other captive birds or mammals from or to premises in the zone where poultry or other captive birds are kept, unless the movement is licensed by a veterinary inspector or by an inspector under the direction of a veterinary inspector.
Disposal of carcases, the occupier must ensure that all carcases not seized or disposed of by a veterinary inspector are disposed of in accordance with a veterinary inspector’s instructions.
Biosecurity measures, the occupier and any person entering or leaving premises in the zone where poultry, other captive birds or eggs are kept must take such biosecurity measures as he considers necessary to reduce the risk of the spread of avian influenza to or from the premises.
The regulations also say that no person shall permit any poultry or other captive birds to be collected together at any fair, market, show, exhibition or other gathering in the zone and No person shall move any poultry, poultry meat, or eggs, semen, blood samples or carcases from poultry or other captive birds into, within or out of the zone unless the movement is direct; and licensed by a veterinary inspector or by an inspector under the direction of a veterinary inspector; of table eggs direct to wholesale or retail premises, or subsequent to such a movement; or within the same premises.
Transport by road and rail Poultry and eggs may be transported through the zone on a major highway or railway if no stop is made within the zone.
Full details on the current situation and measures can be found on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-avian-influenza-latest-situation-in-england
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