H5N1 avian flu confirmed on second farm on Norfolk/Suffolk border

DEFRA has today (Monday 19 November) confirmed a second case of avian flu on a premises near Thetford on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.

The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has been identified on Hill Meadow farm, one of the four farms culled as ‘dangerous contacts’ to the initial case at Redgrave Farm, near Diss, last week. This farm is nine miles from Redgrave Farm.

On the five farms, all of which are run by Redgrave Poultry, a total of 28,600 birds have been culled so far.

Although DEFRA has not confirmed the results of tests carried out on the other farms, it is thought that tests on at least one other farm culled are negative.  

The protection, surveillance and restricted zones are shown below. For a larger image click here.

Geoffrey Buchanan, operations director at Redgrave Poultry explained that Hill Meadow farm is a seasonal farm preparing birds for Christmas. “As such, no birds from the farm have been slaughtered for food or sent to customers.”