Bird Flu Outbreak threatens UK Christmas Turkey Supply
London, UK – A severe outbreak of avian influenza across Great Britain is raising concerns about potential disruptions to the Christmas turkey supply, according to industry experts. The outbreak, which began at the start of October, has seen approximately 50 cases confirmed – the majority in England – as of late November, including infections at large-scale commercial poultry units.
New housing measures were extended to cover a wider area of England on November 29th, building on existing restrictions in northern, central and some parts of eastern England. Wales implemented compulsory housing measures on November 13th. An avian influenza prevention zone is currently in place across all of Great Britain, mandating strict biosecurity protocols to limit the disease’s spread.
“Producers are doing their utmost to manage the birds and manage the situation,” stated Gareth Griffiths, senior policy advisor at the British Poultry Council. He added that the coming weeks are “crucial” for the slaughter of birds intended for Christmas dinner, expressing hope for a collective “sigh of relief” once that process is complete.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency, responsible for responding to outbreaks on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has been continuously managing disease control efforts, including navigating the largest avian influenza outbreak in UK history during 2023, according to Sascha van Helvoort, the agency’s head of outbreak delivery.
Daily confirmations of new cases continue to be reported across the country. the current situation underscores the ongoing challenge of containing the highly contagious virus within both captive and wild bird populations.
