U.K. officials order poultry indoors to fight HPAI spread

Authorities have designated all of Scotland and England an Aviation Influenza Prevention Zone in order to protect commercial and backyard poultry flocks from the avian influenza outbreak that so far has affected 14 European and Asian nations in recent weeks. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has yet to be confirmed in any part of the United Kingdom, but officials at the Dept. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are concerned enough to order poultry farm managers and others to keep birds inside for the next 30 days, according to several local media reports. Similar restrictions have already been introduced in Wales and the British Poultry Council has noted that there are no threats to Christmas turkeys, most of which have already been processed for sale.