Chickens to be culled at Staffordshire farm after bird flu confirmed
Poultry at a Staffordshire chicken farm are set to be culled after bird flu was confirmed at the site.
A 10km control zone has been set up around the farm north of Uttoxeter along after the case was confirmed on Saturday.
Specific rules around the housing and movement of birds and eggs apply in this area and records must be kept of anyone entering sites where poultry is kept.
Extra rules apply to areas within 3km of the affected farm.
A Government spokesman said all the poultry at the affected farm would be "humanely culled" after bird flu was confirmed in broiler chickens.
Anyone who owns chickens or turkeys, either commercially or as pets, has been required by law to keep birds indoors since December last year due to the risk of bird flu.
However that rule is due to end on Wednesday after the risk was reduced to "medium" earlier this month.
Cases have been confirmed all over the UK but this is the first case in Staffordshire or the West Midlands.
Staffordshire County Council has urged anyone with poultry in the county to be alert to signs of bird flu and reminded owners to keep birds housed.
Stephanie Young, trading standards manager at the council, said: “Anyone with poultry in Staffordshire should be vigilant and look out for signs of avian influenza and maintain biosecurity measures.
“If anyone has any concerns or needs further information, they should contact us straight away.”
Anyone who needs help can contact the trading standards team on 01785 277875 or email animal.health@staffordshire.gov.uk
