Threat of more bird flu cases lead to tighter controls across England
18 Oct 2022 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
From Monday 17 October it is once again a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Great Britain to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian influenza.
Following a continued number of detections of avian influenza (bird flu) in wild birds across Great Britain, and with the heightened risk due to an influx of migratory birds, the Chief Veterinary Officers from England, Scotland and Wales have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across the whole of Great Britain.
Avian influenza circulates naturally in wild birds and when they migrate to the UK from mainland Europe over the winter, they can spread the disease to poultry and other captive birds.
Enhanced measures apply to keepers with more than 500 birds and includes the need to: restrict access for non-essential people on their sites, get workers to change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and ensure site vehicles are cleaned and disinfected regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
All bird owners, including backyard owners with smaller numbers of birds and poultry such as chickens, ducks and geese, must follow minimum biosecurity measures to help control the disease. The minimum biosecurity measures are as follows-
- Keep free-ranging birds in fenced areas to minimise contact with wild birds, neigbouring poultry or captive birds.
- Inspect outdoor areas, removing wild bird contaminants like faeces, feathers and wild bird carcases.
- Fence off or put netting over areas of standing water or ponds.
- Provide feed and water undercover, so wild birds can’t access it.
- Make your premises unattractive to wild birds. Use bird scarers, foils or streamers.
- Keep ducks and geese separate from other poultry.
- Store bedding under cover to reduce the risk of contamination.
- Clean and disinfect footwear before and after tending to your birds. If you own more than 50 birds, place foot dips containing Government approved disinfectant at all entry and exit points.
- Clean and disinfect hard surfaces regularly.
- Clean and disinfect equipment and vehicles to avoid disease spread between premises.
- Minimise the movement of people, vehicles and equipment to and from bird areas and keep records of movements.
- Keep records of poultry, captive bird and egg movements.
- Maintain buildings that house birds to prevent water ingress
- Ensure pest control is effective.
Full guidance covering biosecurity requirements and other useful information about avian influenza, including the main clinical signs to look out for, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu. Bird keepers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these details.
The introduction of an AIPZ follows a decision to raise the risk level for avian influenza incursion in wild birds in Great Britain from ‘medium’ to ‘high’. For poultry and captive birds the risk level has been raised from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ at premises where biosecurity is below the required standards, and from ‘low’ to ‘medium’ where stringent biosecurity measures are applied.
In a joint statement the Chief Veterinary Officers for England, Scotland and Wales said:
"Bird keepers have faced the largest ever outbreak of avian flu this year and with winter brings an even more increased risk to flocks as migratory birds return to the United Kingdom. Scrupulous biosecurity and hygiene measures is the best form of defence, which is why we have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Great Britain, meaning that all bird keepers must take action to help prevent the disease spreading to more poultry and other domestic birds. The introduction of an AIPZ means regardless of whether you keep a few birds or thousands, you are legally required to meet enhanced biosecurity requirements to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease."
The AIPZ, now in force across Great Britain, does not include a nationwide requirement to house birds but does require that they are kept in enclosed areas to minimise contact with other birds. It will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of bird flu.
The UK health agencies advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low, but the public are being asked not to pick up dead or distressed birds.
Northumberland County Councillor Colin Horncastle, cabinet member with responsibility for Public Protection, said: “It is really important that bird keepers ensure they are doing all they can to maintain and strengthen biosecurity measures on their premises to prevent further outbreaks.”
We want to help protect the livelihoods of our commercial bird keepers, as well as the health of birds kept as pets and the wild bird population, so we are asking everyone who looks after poultry to keep a close eye on them for any signs of disease and stay on top of their cleaning and working practises in line with the AIPZ requirements.
"I would like to stress that the risk to public health is very low, and properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are still safe to eat according to the Food Standards Agency."
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. If you require any further advice, please contact Public Protection on 01670 623780 or via email at tradingstandards@northumberland.gov.uk