‘Shock’ of first England farmer hit by bird flu this season

An outbreak of bird flu at Catherine Armstrong’s free-range farm near Belford, Northumberland, has killed 32,000 egg-laying hens and led to the culling of the remaining birds. Armstrong described the discovery as a shock and expects the outbreak to cost her business more than £100,000.

The flock usually produces 28,500 eggs a day for UK supermarkets. Deaths rose from 39 on Friday to more than 1,000 by Sunday, and the infection was confirmed on Tuesday; its source is unknown, though wild birds are suspected. It is the first case in England this season, alongside one other confirmed UK case on the Isle of Lewis. Officials expect cases to rise as colder weather and migratory birds arrive; a government vaccine trial’s results are due by year-end, but vaccination will not be available this season.