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| Norfolk farmer's bird flu fears after losing 100,000 birds | |
| (14 days later) | |
| Mark Gorton lost 100,000 chickens and turkeys during a bird flu outbreak in 2022 | Mark Gorton lost 100,000 chickens and turkeys during a bird flu outbreak in 2022 |
| A poultry farmer who lost 100,000 birds to bird flu said he was on "high alert" after prevention measures were imposed across England. | A poultry farmer who lost 100,000 birds to bird flu said he was on "high alert" after prevention measures were imposed across England. |
| Mark Gorton, of Shropham-based Traditional Norfolk Poultry, said it was "devastating" to lose the livestock across nine farms in 2022. | Mark Gorton, of Shropham-based Traditional Norfolk Poultry, said it was "devastating" to lose the livestock across nine farms in 2022. |
| His comments followed a new bird flu prevention zone being put in place, with all kept birds in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex and Cambridgeshire having to be caged. | |
| "We are doing everything we can to keep our birds safe, but this is a brutal disease," Mr Gorton said. | "We are doing everything we can to keep our birds safe, but this is a brutal disease," Mr Gorton said. |
| A rising number of cases and the risk avian influenza posed to wild birds led to the government enforcing the new zone on Saturday. | A rising number of cases and the risk avian influenza posed to wild birds led to the government enforcing the new zone on Saturday. |
| There have been 23 cases of bird flu confirmed in England since the start of 2024, most of which occurred in the eastern counties. | There have been 23 cases of bird flu confirmed in England since the start of 2024, most of which occurred in the eastern counties. |
| Millions of birds had to be culled during the last major avian flu outbreak | Millions of birds had to be culled during the last major avian flu outbreak |
| Mr Gorton said he hoped to avoid a repeat of the "colossal" consequences he faced in 2022. | Mr Gorton said he hoped to avoid a repeat of the "colossal" consequences he faced in 2022. |
| "You start with the mental and psychological impact of seeing your livestock dying in front of your eyes with nothing you can do about it," he said. | "You start with the mental and psychological impact of seeing your livestock dying in front of your eyes with nothing you can do about it," he said. |
| "Some of our farms were out of production for over a year which was financially crippling. | "Some of our farms were out of production for over a year which was financially crippling. |
| "Here we are in 2025 with cases on the rise again... And we are on high alert again." | "Here we are in 2025 with cases on the rise again... And we are on high alert again." |
| The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across England applied to all bird keepers, whether they had pets or a commercial flock. | The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across England applied to all bird keepers, whether they had pets or a commercial flock. |
| It meant owners had to conduct enhanced biosecurity measures, including: | It meant owners had to conduct enhanced biosecurity measures, including: |
| Minimising contact with wild birds by keeping free range birds in fenced areas or indoors | Minimising contact with wild birds by keeping free range birds in fenced areas or indoors |
| Providing feed and water undercover so wild birds cannot access it | Providing feed and water undercover so wild birds cannot access it |
| Cleaning and disinfecting footwear before and after looking after birds | Cleaning and disinfecting footwear before and after looking after birds |
| Keeping ducks and geese separate from other poultry | Keeping ducks and geese separate from other poultry |
| The risk to humans remained low, with chicken and eggs safe to eat if properly cooked, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said. | The risk to humans remained low, with chicken and eggs safe to eat if properly cooked, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said. |
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