Dutch authorities cull 50,000 birds
Six-thousand birds were culled at an East Yorkshire duck farm last month.
A cull of 50,000 birds was carried out at a Dutch poultry farm yesterday, in a bid to curb the spread of avian flu.
Dutch authorities say the cull was a precautionary measure, after the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of the virus was confirmed at an egg production farm in Zoeterwoude, 1km away.
All birds at the infected farm have already been culled. Dutch authorities are inspecting a third farm within a 10km radius. Two other farms also reside within the area, but they do not house poultry at this time.
Last month, a case of H5N8 was detected at a poultry farm in Hekendorp.
An outbreak of H5N8 was confirmed in East Yorkshire shortly after, resulting in the culling of 6,000 birds. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the case is linked with the outbreak in the Netherlands.
Public Health England has said the risk to public health is very low and there is no food safety risk.
Highly pathogenic avian flu is often fatal. It is spread by direct contact with contaminated body fluids or faeces.
SPVS and FIVP have collaborated to launch a short survey about the proposed reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.
