Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 12/8/16


Authorities have designated all of Scotland and England an Aviation Influenza Prevention Zone in order to protect commercial and backyard poultry flocks from the avian influenza outbreak that so far has affected 14 European and Asian nations in recent weeks.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has yet to be confirmed in any part of the United Kingdom, but officials at the Dept. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are concerned enough to order poultry farm managers and others to keep birds inside for the next 30 days, according to several local media reports. Similar restrictions have already been introduced in Wales and the British Poultry Council has noted that there are no threats to Christmas turkeys, most of which have already been processed for sale, the Daily Express reported.

The British and Scottish governments believe the greatest threat could come from infected wild birds from other European nations interacting with and infecting local flocks with the H5N8 strain that has been on the rise since early November. An estimated 4 million birds already have been culled in Europe and Asia since the first confirmed outbreak was discovered.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.