‘Highly infectious’ bird flu outbreak near Arundel

The confirmation of the avian influenza near to Arundel has resulted in immediate Government action.

A three-kilometre controlled zone has been issued around the place where the disease was first confirmed.

In this controlled zone, owners of birds must follow strict measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

These include keeping poultry and other captive birds housed, not spreading poultry litter and not moving eggs without a licence.

In the control zone, bird keepers must follow strict measures to curb the spread of the disease (Image: HM Government)

This comes after a national shortage of eggs believed to be at least partly related to outbreaks of avian flu across England.

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It is already mandatory that captive birds in the UK are housed or prevented from mixing with wild birds by the use of netting.

But a Government spokesman stressed that in the controlled zone birds “must be housed” unless advised netting is permissible by an animal and plant health agency vet.

In the control zone, poultry must be kept inside (Image: Woodley Wonderworks)

West Sussex county council is urging bird keepers in the control zone who have not already registered their birds to sign up to the poultry register by Monday, November 28.

The avian influenza found near Arundel is caused by a strain that is adapted for birds and presents very low risk to human health.