Fourth case of bird flu confirmed in Norfolk as pre-Christmas restrictions come into force

A fourth case of bird flu has been discovered in Norfolk, just hours after restrictions were imposed across the county in a bid to curb any further outbreaks before Christmas.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed H5N1 was found in captive birds at a premises near Cranworth just south of Dereham.

A near-two mile protection zone has now been put in place and all birds at the site will now be humanely culled.

It is the fourth case to be confirmed in the county this month, after two outbreaks in Watton and another in Dereham.

Defra announced on Friday that Norfolk, as well as Suffolk, Lincolnshire and parts of Yorkshire, would be made subject to avian flu restrictions.

It means it is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers in the affected areas to "mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease".

Defra added that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat, and the risk to humans remains extremely low.

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