UPDATED: A case of bird flu has been confirmed on a duck breeding farm near Driffield, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed.
The Government department said there is at least one case of the virus at the unnamed farm near Nafferton. However, the risk to public health is considered to be "very low".
A 3km (1.2-mile) protection zone and a 10km (6-mile) surveillance zone are in place, with the central point between Driffield and Nafferton. Within these areas, poultry must be kept in doors and not transferred in or out of the zone.
East Riding Council says its officers will be visiting neighbouring businesses to provide advice and guidance. A spokesman said poultry and eggs were safe to purchase and eat, and that people should continue to use roads and footpaths in the area unless they were advised otherwise.
It is the first confirmed case of bird fly in the UK since 2008, when chickens on a farm in Oxfordshire tested positive for the virus.
Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious viral illness that spreads among birds and can affect humans in rare cases.
However, Defra insisted the risk to public health following this latest outbreak is "very low".
The entire flock of about 6,000 ducks will have to be culled in order to prevent the infection from spreading.
A Defra spokesperson said: "We have confirmed a case of avian flu on a duck breeding farm in Yorkshire - the public health risk is very low and there is no risk to the food chain.
"We are taking immediate and robust action which includes introducing a 10km (6 mile) restriction zone and culling all poultry on the farm to prevent any potential spread of infection.
"A detailed investigation is ongoing. We have a strong track record of controlling and eliminating previous outbreaks of avian flu in the UK."
Experts say there are 16 different avian flu types, with the H5N1 strain being the most virulent and deadly.
Defra said the type discovered at the duck farm is H5, but have ruled out H5N1. Further tests will be carried out today to determine the exact strain.
Scientists are examining whether the case is linked to an outbreak of bird flu in the Netherlands, where 150,000 chickens are being killed.
Nigel Gibbens, of Defra, the chief veterinary officer, told the BBC that bird flu in the Netherlands was "our most likely source" for the case in East Yorkshire.
However, the strain discovered in the Netherlands, H5N8, has never been found in humans.
A Public Health England spokesman said: "Based on what we know about this specific strain of avian influenza, the risk to human health in this case is considered extremely low."
Mr Gibbens said the farm was a breeding farm where all birds were housed.
He said the risk of the virus spreading from the farm was low, but it was possible there were other cases in the area.
Mr Gibbens told Sky News: "When we find this disease we act quickly to remove all the birds because of the potential for spread to other farms and we also put in place a zone of restriction where poultry farms in the area are under movement controls while we look for further spread or possible other sources.
"We have to recognise that the first case we find is not necessarily the first case that has occurred, which is why we put restrictions on the zone around the affected farm and look hard around there.
"We'll look at the farm for the potential for spread but at the moment we consider it low. We will look at other possible sources, and with avian flu, wild birds are clearly a possibility and that gives us the possibility that we might see further cases.
"We have to be prepared (for more cases). We're working hard to find such cases if they're there to be found and to do what we can to prevent them.
"Our history on this disease has been very good. Our industry is very controlled in the way that it operates so it limits the potential for spread and the last case of this type, not exactly this strain, was in 2008, where the outbreak was limited to only the one (farm)."
Paul Bellotti, head of housing, transportation and public protection at East Riding Council, said: "The council is aware of a confirmed case of avian flu at a duck breeding farm, in the Nafferton area, and is supporting the operations of a number of agencies, including Defra.
"A co-ordinated and robust response is being undertaken and the council has been advised that the risk to public health is very low.
"The council would like to reassure residents that poultry and eggs are safe to purchase and eat, subject to normal food preparation, and that motorists and the travelling public should continue to use any and all routes on the highways network, unless they are advised otherwise. Unless specifically closed, public footpaths remain open.
"The council will continue to keep residents updated via the authority's website and through local media."
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