Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed on a turkey farm near Ludlow, Shropshire, by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Shropshire Council yesterday (June 1).

As per protocol, a 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone were put in place around the premises. In addition, all poultry on the premises will also be humanely culled.

The most recently confirmed bird flu case prior to this was on May 19; HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in poultry at a premises near Southwell, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire. This followed another case in Nottinghamshire on May 7.

Earlier that month, on May 2, the mandatory housing measures introduced across the UK to help stop the spread of bird flu were lifted.

At that that time, the UK's chief veterinary officers urged the people not to become complacent as the disease threat - now evidently - was still at large.

 "It’s vital that bird keepers remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent standards of biosecurity," they said.

Biosecurity standards

Shropshire Council has issued some "simple measures" that all poultry keepers should take to protect their birds against the threat of avian flu. These include: