Thousands more turkeys to be culled after second case of bird flu in Norfolk
- Watch a full report from ITV News Anglia's Rob Setchell
A second case of bird flu has been confirmed in Norfolk at a farm near King's Lynn.
Defra says the H5N8 strain has been confirmed in rearing turkeys in the unnamed west Norfolk farm near the village of East Winch.
All 25,000 birds on the premises are being humanely culled and a 1.9 mile protection zone has been put up around the farm to stop the spread of the disease.
From next week, biosecurity measures to stop the spread of the disease will be stepped up. By law, all bird keepers must house their flocks indoors and follow procedures like disinfecting equipment and limiting access.
The outbreak is a crushing below for the region's poultry farming industry, which is worth more than half a billion pounds to the local economy. Around 40% of the country's Christmas turkeys are produced in the east.
"It's devastating for a farm to have to go through this," said Brian Finnerty from the National Farmers' Union. "It's also very concerning for poultry farmers in the local area and across the region.
"We've had bird flu before and we have a very good track record of getting on top of it and eradicating the disease.
"The important thing now is that everybody is vigilant, whether you have a few birds or a few thousand. Look out for signs of the disease and if you have any doubts, please call your vets."
Experts say the risk to humans is very low - but the country's chief vet says the measures are vital to protect wild birds and poultry.
Prof Christine Middlemiss said: "As a virus that might affect people, Public Health England has confirmed it's very low risk. The food standards agency has also confirmed very low risk in terms of poultry and poultry products.
"These latest outbreaks are in turkeys and it's devastating for those companies involved but people don't need to worry about their Christmas turkey.
"We produce millions of birds every year so I'm confident there will still be lots of turkey available for those who choose to eat it at Christmas."
Meanwhile, Defra is warning that bird flu has been found in the wild bird population too and says anyone finding any dead or dying birds should avoid touching them.
Fenland water bailiff Roy Bridson issued a warning on social media that swans in the Fens had been struck down by the disease.
If you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you should report them to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77).
Defra can then carry out testing to help them understand how the disease is being spread.