Bird flu -– Latest situation: AvianUK-wide influenzahousing preventionmeasures zoneintroduced declaredto acrossprotect Greatpoultry Britainand captive birds against avian flu

FollowingThe aChief numberVeterinary ofOfficers detectionsfor ofEngland, avianScotland, influenzaWales (birdand flu)Northern inIreland wildhave birdsagreed acrossto Greatbring Britain,in thenew Chiefhousing Veterinarymeasures Officersto fromprotect England,poultry Scotland and Walescaptive havebirds declaredfrom anavian Avianinfluenza Influenzafollowing Preventiona Zonenumber (AIPZ)of acrossconfirmed thecases wholeacross of Great Britain toin mitigaterecent theweeks.

The risknew ofhousing themeasures, diseasewhich spreadingwill amongstcome poultryinto andforce captive birds.

This means that from 5pm on WednesdayMonday 329 NovemberNovember, 2021mean that it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers inacross Greatthe BritainUK to followkeep strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks.

Keepers with more than 500 birds willindoors needand to restrictfollow accessstrict forbiosecurity non-essentialmeasures peoplein onorder their sites, workers will need to change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and site vehicles will need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to limit the riskspread of theand diseaseeradicate spreading.the disease.

AvianWild influenza circulates naturally in wild birds andmigrating when they migrate to the UK from mainland Europe overduring the winter theymonths can spreadcarry the disease and this can lead to cases in poultry and other captive birds.

BackyardHousing ownersmeasures withhave smallerbeen numbersin ofplace poultryfor includingparts chickens,of ducksNorth andYorkshire geesesince must21 alsoNovember takefollowing stepsa tonumber limitof theconfirmed riskand suspect cases of theH5N1 diseaseavian spreadinginfluenza toin theirpoultry animals.in the area.

ThePublic UK health agenciesadvice adviseremains that the risk to publichuman health from the virus is very low and the UK food standards agenciesbodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. ProperlyDo cookednot poultrytouch or pick up any dead or sick birds that you find and instead report them to the relevant helpline below. There is no impact on the consumption of properly cooked poultry products,products including eggs,eggs.

Government Chief Veterinary Officers are safeencouraging bird keepers to eat.use the next five days to prepare for the new housing measures, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their vet and put up additional housing where necessary.

FollowingThe aadditional riskhousing assessment,measures thebuild Chiefon Veterinarythe Officerstrengthened hasbiosecurity alsoregulations declaredthat awere localisedbrought avianin influenzaacross preventionGreat zoneBritain foras partspart of Norththe Yorkshire,Avian namelyInfluenza thePrevention districtsZone of(AIPZ) Harrogate,on Hambleton3 November 2021 and Richmondshire.in and Northern Ireland on 17 November 2021.

ThisThe meansintroduction fromof 8pmhousing onmeasures 21means Novemberthat 2021from it29 willNovember, bein aaddition legalto forhousing all birdpoultry and captive birds, keepers inmust thecontinue areataking extra precautions to keep their birdsflocks indoorssafe. andThis toincludes followregularly strictcleaning biosecurityand measuresdisinfecting inequipment, orderclothing toand limitvehicles thewhen spreadentering ofor exiting sites and eradicatelimiting theaccess disease.

Into anon-essential jointworkers statementor thevisitors.

The Chief Veterinary Officers forfrom England,across Scotlandall andfour Walesnations said:

Followinghave aworked numbertogether ofto detectionsintroduce ofthe aviannew influenzahousing inmeasures wildat birdsthe acrosssame Greattime, Britainmeaning wethat havethe declaredrestrictions anwill Avianbe Influenzaapplied Prevention Zone across the whole of Greatthe Britain.UK.

In Thisa meansjoint thatstatement allthe birdUK’s keepersfour mustChief takeVeterinary actionOfficers nowsaid:

We have taken swift action to preventlimit the diseasespread spreadingof tothe poultrydisease and otherare domesticnow birds.

Whetherplanning youto keepintroduce just a fewlegal birdsrequirement orfor thousands,all youpoultry areand nowcaptive legallybird requiredkeepers to introducekeep highertheir biosecuritybirds standardshoused onor yourotherwise farmseparate orfrom smallwild holding.birds.

Whether Ityou iskeep injust youra interestsfew tobirds door sothousands, infrom orderMonday to29 protectNovember youronwards birdsyou fromwill thisbe highlylegally infectiousrequired disease.

Theto UKkeep healthyour agenciesbirds haveindoors, confirmedor thattake theappropriate risksteps to publickeep healththem isseparate veryfrom lowwild andbirds. UKWe foodhave standardsnot agenciestaken advisethis thatdecision birdlightly, flutaking posesthis aaction verynow lowis foodthe safetybest riskway forto UKprotect consumers.your birds from this highly infectious disease.

The introduction of the AIPZhousing measures comes after the disease was detected in captive birds at a number of premises across Great Britain.Britain (full list of cases in England below).

In

Poultry Englandand thiscaptive includes:

• H5N1bird (highkeepers pathogenic)are avianadvised influenzato confirmedbe atvigilant afor rescueany centresigns nearof Droitwichdisease in Worcestershiretheir onbirds 27and October.
• H5N1any (highwild pathogenic)birds, avianand influenzaseek confirmedprompt atadvice afrom commercialtheir poultryvet premisesif nearthey Alcesterhave inany Warwickshireconcerns.

  Poultry onkeepers 8must November.

• H5N1now (highdo pathogenic)the avianfollowing:
  • house influenzaor confirmednet atall anpoultry animaland sanctuarycaptive nearbirds Frinton-on-Seato inkeep Essexthem onseparate 12from November.wild birds
  • H5N1cleanse (highand pathogenic)disinfect avianclothing, influenzafootwear, confirmedequipment atand avehicles commercialbefore and after contact with poultry premisesand nearcaptive Salwickbirds in– Lancashireif onpractical, 14use November.disposable protective clothing
  • H5N1reduce (highthe pathogenic)movement avianof influenzapeople, confirmedvehicles ator aequipment commercialto and from areas where poultry premisesand nearcaptive Leemingbirds Barare inkept, Northto Yorkshireminimise oncontamination 14from November.
  • H5N1manure, (highslurry pathogenic)and avianother influenzaproducts, confirmedand atuse aeffective premisesvermin nearcontrol
  • thoroughly Kirkhamcleanse inand Lancashiredisinfect housing on 16a November.continuous basis
  • H5N1keep (highfresh pathogenic)disinfectant avianat influenzathe confirmedright inconcentration birds at aall premisesfarm nearand Willington,poultry Southhousing Derbyshireentry onand 19exit November.points
  • H5N1minimise (highdirect pathogenic)and avianindirect influenzacontact confirmedbetween atpoultry aand premisescaptive nearbirds Pokesdown,and Bournemouth,wild Christchurchbirds, andincluding Poolemaking onsure 19all November.
  • H5N1feed (highand pathogenic)water avianis influenzanot confirmedaccessible atto awild premisesbirds

  These nearnew Copelandhousing inmeasures Cumbriawill onbe 21kept November.

• H5N1under (highregular pathogenic)review avianas influenzapart confirmedof atthe agovernment’s premiseswork nearto Mouldsworth,protect Cheshireflocks.

  Do Westnot &touch Chester,or Cheshirepick onup 21any November.

• H5N1dead (highor pathogenic)sick avianbirds influenzathat confirmedyou atfind. aIf premisesyou nearfind Northdead Fambridge,swans, Maldon,geese Essexor onducks 21or November.
• H5N1other (pathogenicitydead towild bebirds, confirmed)such avianas influenzagulls confirmedor atbirds aof commercialprey, poultryyou premisesshould nearreport Thirsk,them Hambleton,to Norththe YorkshireDefra helpline on 2103459 November.
• H5N133 (high55 pathogenic)77. avianFor influenzafurther confirmedinformation atsee aour premisesadvice nearto Wells-next-the-Sea,the Northpublic.

  Bird Norfolkkeepers onshould 22report November.

• H5N1suspicion avianof influenzadisease confirmedin atEngland ato premisesDefra nearRural LeemingServices Bar,Helpline Hambletonon North03000 Yorkshire200 (2nd301, Premises),in NorthWales Yorkshirecontact on0300 22303 November8268. (pathogenicityIn toScotland, becontact confirmed).
• H5N1your avianlocal influenzaField confirmedServices atOffice. aIn premisesNorthern nearIreland Thirsk,contact Hambleton,DAERA Northon Yorkshire0300 (2nd200 premises)7840. onKeepers 22should Novemberfamiliarise (pathogenicitythemselves towith beour confirmed).

avian flu advice.

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Poultry riskshows, levelmarkets forand aviangatherings:

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Wild belowbirds:

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Cases confirmed in England:

• KeepH5N1 domestic(high duckspathogenic) andavian geeseinfluenza separateconfirmed fromat othera poultry;
• Ensurerescue thecentre areasnear whereDroitwich birdsin areWorcestershire kepton are27 unattractiveOctober.
• H5N1 to(high wildpathogenic) birds,avian forinfluenza exampleconfirmed byat nettinga ponds,commercial andpoultry bypremises removingnear wildAlcester birdin foodWarwickshire sources;on 8 November.
• FeedH5N1 and(high waterpathogenic) theiravian birdsinfluenza inconfirmed enclosedat areasan toanimal discouragesanctuary wildnear birds;Frinton-on-Sea in Essex on 12 November.
• MinimiseH5N1 movement(high intopathogenic) andavian outinfluenza ofconfirmed birdat enclosures;a commercial poultry premises near Salwick in Lancashire on 14 November.
• CleanseH5N1 and(high disinfectpathogenic) footwearavian andinfluenza keepconfirmed areasat wherea birdscommercial livepoultry cleanpremises andnear tidy;Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire on 14 November.
• ReduceH5N1 any(high existingpathogenic) contaminationavian byinfluenza cleansingconfirmed andat disinfectinga concretepremises areas,near andKirkham fencingin offLancashire weton or16 boggy areas;November.
• KeepH5N1 free(high rangingpathogenic) birdsavian withininfluenza fencedconfirmed areas,in andbirds ponds,at watercoursesa andpremises permanentnear standingWillington, waterSouth mustDerbyshire beon fenced19 offNovember.
• H5N1 (except(high inpathogenic) specificavian circumstances,influenza e.g.confirmed zooat birds).

Thea preventionpremises zonenear willPokesdown, beBournemouth, inChristchurch placeand untilPoole furtheron notice19 andNovember.

H5N1 will(high bepathogenic) keptavian underinfluenza regularconfirmed reviewat asa partpremises ofnear theCopeland government’sin workCumbria toon monitor21 andNovember.

H5N1 manage(high thepathogenic) risksavian ofinfluenza birdconfirmed flu.

Poultryat shows,a marketspremises andnear gatherings:

GatheringsMouldsworth, ofCheshire poultry,West galliforme& orChester, anseriformeCheshire birdson have21 alsoNovember.

H5N1 been(high banned.pathogenic) Galliformeavian birdsinfluenza includeconfirmed pheasants,at partridge,a quail,premises chickens,near turkeyNorth andFambridge, guineaMaldon, fowl.Essex Anseriformeon birds21 includeNovember.

H5N1 ducks,(pathogenicity geese,to andbe swans.confirmed) Seeavian theinfluenza birdconfirmed gatheringsat guidancea forcommercial furtherpoultry information.

Wildpremises birds:

Thenear AnimalThirsk, andHambleton, PlantNorth HealthYorkshire Agencyon (APHA)21 carriesNovember.

H5N1 out(high year-roundpathogenic) avian influenza surveillanceconfirmed ofat deada wildpremises birdsnear submittedWells-next-the-Sea, throughNorth publicNorfolk reportson and22 wardenNovember.

H5N1 patrols.avian Ourinfluenza weeklyconfirmed findingsat ofa avianpremises influenzanear inLeeming wildBar, birdsHambleton canNorth beYorkshire found(2nd here.

PoultryPremises), keepersNorth andYorkshire memberson of22 theNovember public(pathogenicity shouldto reportbe deadconfirmed).

H5N1 wildavian birdsinfluenza toconfirmed Defra’sat nationala deadpremises wildnear birdThirsk, helplineHambleton, North Yorkshire (2nd premises) on 0345922 33November 55(pathogenicity 77to (pleasebe selectconfirmed).

In optionall 7)cases andthe keepersbirds shouldon reportsite suspicionare ofhumanely diseaseculled toand APHAProtection onand 03000Surveillance 200Zones 301.are Keepersput shouldin familiariseplace themselvesto withlimit ourthe avianrisk fluof advice.the disease spreading.

Further informationinformation:

The government’s latest guidance on avian influenza, including how to spot the disease and what action you should take to report it, can be found here.

The government’s outbreak assessment following recent cases in England can be accessed here.

Biosecurity guidance and a biosecurity self-assessment checklists have been published on each of the GB administration’s website to assist all bird keepers in instigating and maintaining good biosecurity:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales

Bird flu is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect any type of bird flu you must report it immediately. Failure to do so is an offence.

You can report suspected or confirmed cases in:

• England by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301,
• Scotland by contacting your local Field Services Office
• Wales by calling 0300 303 8268
• Northern Ireland by calling the DAERA Helpline on 0300 2007840

In Great Britain, if you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you should report them to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77 - please select option 7). In Northern Ireland contact DAERA on 0300 200 7840.

For more advice and regular updates on the latest situation, visit Governments’ avian flu pages: in England, Scotland, Wales and NI.

In GB, you are legally required to register your birds if you keep more than 50 birds. Keepers with less than 50 birds are strongly encouraged to register. It is also a legal requirement to notify APHA of any significant changes in the average number of birds kept.

In Northern Ireland if you keep any birds, other than pet birds kept in the owner’s home, you need to make sure they are registered.

Avian Influenza is in no way connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus which is not carried in poultry.