According to British government figures, the UK faces the biggest outbreak of bird flu in 2022, killing 2.8 million poultry and captive birds – although the devastating impact of the disease is well documented among wild birds – particularly seabird populations in Scotland, Wales and the north of England – British newspaper ‘The Independent’ The newspaper revealed the enormous cost of the explosion.
To date, there have been 144 outbreaks across the country in commercial facilities, with 120 outbreaks reported in England, 11 cases in Scotland, 7 in Wales and 6 in Northern Ireland. The disease, called highly pathogenic avian influenza, originated in intensively farmed birds in China, but spread to Europe and North America through wild populations of migratory birds.
The British government insists that the risk of highly pathogenic avian flu entering wild birds is currently rated as “medium” – meaning it is a regular occurrence.
“This has affected our seagulls on an unprecedented scale, arguably the worst virus outbreak we have ever seen,” said Martin Foley of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).
Jane Austen is a writer and contributor covering culture, literature, lifestyle, and society. Her work focuses on thoughtful storytelling, social trends, and the issues shaping everyday life, delivering engaging and accessible content for readers across the United Kingdom.
