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02
May 2022
'Hen lockdown' in Harrogate district ends today
A government order for bird owners to keep their animals inside to prevent the spread of bird flu ends today.
The order began in November after cases of avian influenza were identified across the country.
It meant hens and other birds have had to be kept indoors for almost six months.
There is no evidence that the virus can affect humans but it is highly contagious among birds and can wipe out poultry flocks.
But the government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) now says it is safe to relax the rules due to a low number of cases.
In a joint statement, the four chief veterinary officers said:
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