"The cull is to prevent the spread of potential infection, and is being carried out in a safe and humane manner by fully trained APHA [Animal and Plant Health Agency] staff," Defra said in a statement. "Our response to this outbreak follows tried and tested procedures for dealing with avian flu outbreaks and we expect the cull to be completed later today."
Defra's animal health laboratory in Weybridge confirmed the outbreak is the H5N8 strain. Public Health England emphasized that the risk to public health is very low, while the Food Standards Agency said there is no food safety risk for consumers. Investigators will now work to determine whether the outbreak is related to cases in Netherlands and Germany.
