A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been declared in Warwickshire after an outbreak of the deadliest H5N1 strain of bird flu.

The protection measures will require anyone who keeps poultry in these areas to isolate the birds and strictly record the name and address of anyone who visits them.

In the declaration signed on Monday, the Department for Food and Rural Affairs said: “The Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed that highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is present in England.”

It follows a prevention zone being declared across whole of the UK last week to prevent the virus from spreading among poultry.

The H5N1 subtype of flu is considered to be a highly pathogenic and fast-mutating strain, making it challenging to immunise people against.

According to World Health Organisation data, between 2003 and 2021 there were 456 deaths caused by 863 infections, giving the disease a 52% mortality rate.

This is much higher than the COVID-19 global mortality rate of around 3.4% although the coronavirus has infected far more people.

Leamington Spa fire: Evacuations amid fears huge blaze on industrial estate could involve chemicals

Warwickshire: Bodies of elderly couple found inside house in Nuneaton

Warwick University was hacked and kept breach secret from students and staff

If an H5N1 epidemic were to reach such a scale – which there is currently no sign of, and the outbreaks being reported solely affect poultry – it would result in 130 million deaths, equivalent to the combined populations of France and the UK.

It can cause severe economic damage for farmers and outbreaks in East Asia have in some cases led to the deaths of millions of birds.

The measures in the 10km surveillance zone don’t require people to isolate their poultry, but they must also keep detailed records of their movements and visitors.

Any movement of poultry or eggs out of the surveillance zone needs to be licensed by a veterinary inspector.

Similar outbreaks have been detected in Europe, with France raising its risk level to “high” on Friday as cases were reported in Italy, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.

More than 10,000 turkeys were culled at a farm in North Yorkshire ahead of Christmas last year due to an outbreak of a different strain there, H5N8.

Bird flu affects a number of species of birds, including geese, ducks, turkeys and chickens.

Because birds do not always get sick if they are infected with the illness, seemingly healthy birds can pose a risk to people who come into contact with them.

It is spread through direct contact with infected birds (either dead or alive), their droppings, or secretions from their eyes or respiratory tract.

The virus is not transmitted through cooked food.

The NHS says poultry and eggs are safe to eat in areas that have experienced outbreaks, although the movement of poultry to slaughterhouses is still overseen by veterinary inspectors.

Related posts:

Bottles thrown at police called to break up COVID rules-busting party As pub gardens and shops reopen in England, PM urges nation to ‘behave responsibly’ Former Met Police officer who stole drug dealers’ cash jailed for eight years This year’s climate summit in Glasgow is last hope for limiting global warming, minister to warn Vaccine fraudster jailed after charging 92-year-old pensioner £140 for fake jab Three-year-old child and police officer found dead at address in Worcestershire COVID deaths and hospital admissions expected to fall in August, scientists suggest Stonehenge to repair cracks and holes in biggest work for 60 years Man killed in drive-by shooting in south London named by police Have you seen these people? Police hunting for 12 wanted violent offenders release images Insulate Britain activists plan new protests Cold weather alert issued for parts of UK ahead of freezing temperatures and widespread frosts