Authorities in Britain have identified a case of the H5N1 bird flu strain in commercial poultry at a site near St Ives, southwest England, according to a government statement on Sunday.
To contain the outbreak, all birds on the affected premises will be humanely culled. Additionally, officials have established a 3-kilometer protection zone and a 10-kilometer surveillance zone around the location.
This marks the first detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain in kept birds this season. The announcement follows recent cases of HPAI H5N5 found in wild birds across southwest England and parts of continental Europe.
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has led to the deaths of hundreds of millions of birds worldwide in recent years. Its spread to mammals has raised concerns about the potential for human-to-human transmission.
In mid-October, Britain elevated its bird flu threat level to medium. The country has faced multiple outbreaks over the years, including a significant event in 2021, which was described as the largest bird flu outbreak in its history.
