Pickering – surveillance zone set up after bird flu outbreak

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at a commercial poultry farm to the north-west of Pickering yesterday (March 3).

The three-kilometre protection zone imposed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) from 6.40pm last night until further notice also covers villages including Wrelton, Cropton, Appleton-le-Moors and Sinnington, as well as part of Aislaby.

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A ten-kilometre surveillance zone has been introduced for an area which includes Pickering, Kirkbymoorside, Newton-on-Rawcliffe and Kirby Mills.

The three-kilometre and ten-kilometre zones were published by Defra last night (March 3) (Image: Defra)

Businesses which keep poultry or captive birds operating within protection zones and surveillance zones are required to carry out a range of measures including the recording of movement of visitors to the site, poultry and poultry movements and of other captive birds.

All poultry birds on the premises will be humanely culled, Defra said.

The news follows multiple outbreaks in January in the York area.

More information and the full range of measures imposed can be found on the Defra website.