A bird flu outbreak has been confirmed in commercial poultry at a farm in East Riding of Yorkshire. The virus, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), was discovered near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire,

The UK government said on Tuesday that cases of bird flu had been confirmed in commercial poultry at premises in Yorkshire, hours after it increased the risk level of the disease from medium to high.

All poultry on the farm near Hornsea in East Riding of Yorkshire will be culled, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said.

Cases of bird flu have been detected at a commercial poultry farm in Yorkshire, the first time the highly infectious virus has been confirmed in chickens in England during the current outbreak.

But in the months since the outbreak was first detected, the spread of the virus in cows has not been contained, with infections reported in 380 herds in 14 states so far. Now, with cold and flu season looming, it is likely to become significantly more difficult for the country’s public health departments to track the virus.

This is the first case of this strain found in poultry or captive birds in England during the current outbreak

The UK government said on Tuesday it has confirmed a strain of the H5N5 bird flu virus in commercial poultry at a premises near Hornsea in Yorkshire. All poultry on the infected premises will be humanely culled and a three kilometer protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone has been put in place surrounding the premises,

The UK government warned bird keepers to remain vigilant after bird flu was detected at a commercial poultry farm in northern England, the second outbreak this year and first of the season.