Bird Flu strain confirmed. Pic: barryskeates

Bird Flu strain H7N7 has been confirmed at a poultry farm on the outskirts of Preston.

Environment health officials locked down the area, setting up a 10km control zone around the Longridge area due to a suspected outbreak, but the government has now confirmed the strain.

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Public Health England has said the risk to humans is low and the Food Standards Agency has said there is no safety risk to consumers. The strain is contagious within the birds, and Defra have said that the 170,000 strong flock at the site will be humanly culled.

Field Foot farm is owned by family firm, Staveley’s Eggs.

Chief vet Nigel Gibbens said: “We have taken swift precautionary action to limit the risk of disease spreading. These measures to control the movement of poultry and humanely cull birds at the farm are part of our tried and tested approach to deal with such incidents.

“I would urge bird keepers to be vigilant for any signs of disease, report suspect disease to their nearest APHA office and to ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises.

“The decision to take precautionary action has been taken based on the clinical symptoms displayed by birds at the farm and emerging laboratory findings. The investigation into the suspect case and laboratory tests are ongoing.”