Bird flu confirmed in chickens at British farm

The outbreak has been identified as the H7 strain

The deadly H7N9 strain of bird flu hit China last year (Getty)

A case of bird flu has been detected at a farm in Hampshire.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said that a "low severity" case of avian flu has been confirmed in chickens.

A poultry restriction zone has been imposed and the birds at the commercial chicken breeding farm, which has not been named, are to be culled as part of action to prevent any spread of the disease.

The outbreak has been identified as the H7 strain, which is described by officials as "much less severe" than the H5N8 strain found at a Yorkshire duck farm in November.

Defra said there are no links between the two cases, while Public Health England said the risk to public health is very low.

The Food Standards Agency said there is no food safety risk for consumers.

PA