Experts warn of ‘real’ risk of turkey shortage this Christmas due to bird flu

Experts have warnedthere is “a real risk” that bird flu could affect the supply of turkeys this Christmas with the risk of it spreading “very likely”.

About 2,000 birds have died and almost 30,000 more may have to be culled at a large poultry farm which has been hit by bird flu.

The disease was found at a commercial farm near Belford in north Northumberland, according to the Department for Environmental, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

A 1.9 mile (3km) protection zone and 6.2 mile (10km) surveillance zone has been declared around the premises and all poultry will be culled. The 10km surveillance zone includes the Farne Islands, which are famous for their marine bird life.

Experts say it is “very likely other cases will arise” as the UK enters flu season, which could impact turkey flocks and “reduce turkey availability” ahead of the festive period.

Northumberland County Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson told the BBC 29,000 birds would need to be culled at the farm near Belford.

He explained that “luckily” there are no other poultry farms in the protection zone, but said he was concerned farms could be hit financially if there are further outbreaks, especially farms with turkeys in the run up towards Christmas.

“If bird flu gets into those, that’s ruined them for the year – because that’s their main money-making part of the year,” he told the BBC.

Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious viral illness that can be spread among commercial and pet birds, by direct contact or through contaminated body fluids and faeces. In rare cases it can also infect humans who come into close contact with an infected bird.

“If an infection spreads into turkey flocks then there is indeed a real risk that it could reduce turkey availability this year,” Paul Hunter Professor in Medicine at the University of East Anglia told the Independent.

But he said it was unclear how likely it is for this bird flu outbreak to spread to other flocks as the risk of disease also comes from wild birds.

“Good control of the Northumberland outbreak and good hygiene management of turkey flocks should reduce that risk. The risk comes from wild birds as well and we cannot control the disease in non farmed birds,” Prof Hunter added.

Andrew Preston, professor of microbial pathogenesis at the University of Bath, said it was difficult to prevent bird flu cases.

“It’s very likely that the farm was infected from a wild bird, they shed the virus in droppings and secretions, so it’s incredibly difficult to safeguard against,” he told the Independent.

He added: “There is an ongoing global epidemic of ‘bird flu’, and for an extended period of time, the entire UK was under preventative measures, but this was lifted during the summer. However, as we enter the flu season, and with the seasonal global movement of wild birds, it’s very likely other cases will arise in the UK.”

Wesley Thorne, a poultry business director for northern Europe at Ceva Animal Health, explained it’s likely the UK will see more cases of bird flu identified in the coming months due to the migratory waterfowl increasing the risk to our commercial poultry flocks.

But the poultry industry produces turkeys in advance of the Christmas period to stay resilient.

“Currently, there will be farms in the UK with turkeys being reared for the Christmas market and these are susceptible to disease transmission from avian influenza,” according to Mr Thorne.

“The farms must maintain strict bio-security protocols to reduce risk of infection. The industry does however produce birds in advance of the Christmas period so there is some resilience for the supply chain.

“If the recent case can be controlled efficiently and the movement restrictions and additional bio-security deployed avoids further local infections, it is very possible that this outbreak can be contained,” it added.