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An outbreak of bird flu has been identified on a Kent farm.
The 480 birds that live on the site will be euthanized to limit the spread of the disease.
An outbreak was confirmed at a small commercial facility near Deal in Kent on Monday, the government said.
“Immediate steps have been taken to limit the risk of the disease spreading and all remaining poultry and captives on the farm will be culled,” said Christine Middlemiss, UK Veterinary Director.
The company does not supply poultry or eggs to the commercial food chain, Middlemiss said.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) found positive antibody results in three out of 20 farm birds sampled in a routine surveillance program for avian influenza.
“Avian influenza remains a rare infection in humans,” PHE’s Dr. Gavin Dabrera said following news of the outbreak in Kent.
The consultant on acute respiratory infections advised people not to touch any sick or dead birds and to wash their hands thoroughly with soap after contact with any animals.
The outbreak at the Kent site involved avian influenza strain H5N2, according to the government.
The Food Standards Agency has said that this strain does not pose a food safety risk to UK consumers. “The greatest risk posed by avian influences through the food chain is very low,” added a spokesperson.
An investigation is underway to discover the origin of the outbreak on the Kent farm.
After cases of bird flu were detected in the Netherlands in October, the UK increased its level of threat from migratory bird viruses.
The swans were confirmed to have H5N8 avian influenza, according to the four UK chief veterinary officers.
Wild birds migrating westward from continental Europe during the winter period can transmit the disease to poultry and other captive birds.
