The Government has confirmed an outbreak of bird flu near Banbury.
The Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said preliminary tests on chickens at a premises near the town were positive for the H7 strain.
All birds on the premises will be slaughtered as a precautionary measure.
A temporary control zone is being established around the infected premises.
A Government spokesman said all birds must be housed or otherwise isolated from contact with wild birds in the zone.
Defra is urgently considering whether any wider measures may be needed.
Mr Gibbens said: "I would stress the need for poultry keepers to be extremely vigilant, practise the highest levels of biosecurity and report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal Health Office immediately."
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