Birds to be culled near Exminster after bird flu confirmed

Bird flu has been confirmed at a farm in Devon, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said.

Defra said the case had occurred in poultry at a property near Exminster on Sunday and that all birds at the site would be humanely culled.

A 3km (1.9 mile) protection zone and 10km (6.2 mile) surveillance zone has been declared around the affected premises.

Anyone keeping poultry or other captive birds within the two zones must keep them housed and a record of all people who enter or leave the property, Defra said.

England, Scotland and Wales have been designated an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity measures in place until further notice.

The AIPZ measures apply to all bird keepers whether they have pet or commercial birds.

Strict biosecurity is essential to protecting flocks from bird flu, Defra added.