Bird flu prevention zone extended to cover whole of England
Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens has confirmed that a bird flu prevention zone has been declared across the whole of England, after 13 dead wild birds were confirmed to have the virus in Warwickshire.
The decision means it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity measures, as in the past weeks 17 wild birds have also tested positive in Dorset and a total of 31 infected birds have now been identified at that site.
A bird flu prevention zone has now been declared across the whole of England.
According to Defra, these latest results show the disease is not isolated to a single site and the extension to the prevention zone across the country was announced on a precautionary basis.
Defra also highlighted that testing of the birds found in Warwickshire is ongoing, however, it is “highly expected that this will be the same H5N6 strain of the virus which has been circulating in wild birds across Europe in recent months”.
Public Health England has advised the risk to public health remains very low and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.
Gibbens commented: “Following the latest finding of bird flu in wild birds in Warwickshire, we are extending our action to help prevent the virus spreading to poultry and other domestic birds.
“Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, you are now legally required to meet enhanced biosecurity requirements and this is in your interests to do, to protect your birds from this highly infectious virus.”
The prevention zone means bird keepers across the country must ensure the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to wild birds, they feed and water birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds, minimise movement in and out of bird enclosures, clean and disinfect footwear and keep areas where birds live clean and tidy and reduce any existing contamination by cleansing and disinfecting concrete areas, and fencing off wet or boggy areas.
Keepers with more than 500 birds will also be required to take some extra biosecurity measures including restricting access to non-essential people, changing clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and cleaning and disinfecting vehicles.
The prevention zone will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of Defra’s work to monitor the threat of bird flu.
Poultry keepers and members of the public should report dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and keepers should report suspicion of disease to APHA on 03000 200 301.
There are no plans to carry out any culls or put movement restrictions in place.
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