Bird flu surveillance zone is finally lifted

Defra has confirmed that the 10km surveillance zone around Staveley’s Eggs, at Field Foot Farm off Eaves Green Lane in Goosnargh, had come to an end.

It means all poultry keeping farms within the zone around the premises are now allowed to move poultry and other animals without restrictions.

Tests confirmed the avian flu was a high severity H7N7 strain of the disease, but it was not linked to the strain found at a Hampshire farm earlier this year.

It is thought to have been caused by wild birds.

Chief Vet Nigel Gibbens said: “Our robust, swift and intensive approach to tackling this incident, and confirming the disease was contained to a single farm, means we have been able to lift these restrictions at the earliest possible point allowed by EU law.”