Public alerted after bird flu outbreak

Bird flu cases have been recorded elsewhere in the South East

A public alert has been issued following a bird flu outbreak in East Sussex.

Wealden District Council called on residents and businesses that house birds to be vigilant to signs of disease and report any suspected cases immediately.

It comes after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it had confirmed "highly pathogenic avian influenza" at a large commercial poultry unit near Uckfield.

A 1.9-mile (3km) protection zone and a 6.2-mile and (10km) surveillance zone have been put in place around the site.

All birds there will now be "humanely culled", according to Defra.

The risk of bird flu to humans is low, with transmission from birds very rare, say scientists.

Advice for birdkeepers

Wealden District Council said signs that birds have the virus include unusual quietness, decreased levels of activity, feeding and egg production.

It advised that poultry keepers could protect their flocks by ensuring their living areas were clean and tidy, separating different species and preventing contact with wild birds.

The Defra protection zone around the site means keepers need to make a record of visitors, along with poultry numbers and movements.

Owners are ordered to house captive birds or keep them isolated if housing is "impractical or would adversely affect the birds' welfare to a significant degree", Defra said.

Several other biosecurity measures have been put in place, including restrictions on the movement of birds, use of poultry slurry and releasing of game birds.

Failure to comply can be an offence under the 1981 Animal Health Act, Defra said.

The East Sussex cases come after an avian influenza outbreak at an animal sanctuary near Newington, which led to 61 rescue birds, including a "star" emu, being culled.

Defra has recorded other cases of bird flu in Suffolk, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Norfolk and Lincolnshire.