Following an increasing number of cases of avian influenza in
poultry and kept birds, the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has declared a regional Avian Influenza
Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across the East Riding of
Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire,
Norfolk and Suffolk.
Within this AIPZ, enhanced biosecurity actions are required on a
mandatory basis to both help prevent disease getting in to flocks
and any further spread.
We are now in a period of heightened risk from highly pathogenic
avian influenza (HPAI) across the UK, and all bird keepers in
Wales are urged to remain vigilant and take action to protect
their flocks following these recent cases of bird flu.
Further developments will depend on the disease picture as it
evolves. This could involve the expansion of the AIPZ in England,
the addition of housing measures, or the application of mandatory
protective measures across Great Britain. The requirement for any
expansion of the AIPZ and any future housing orders will be kept
under constant review.
Rigorous and scrupulous hygiene and biosecurity measures offer
the best protection to keep bird flu out of flocks, says Chief
Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr Richard Irvine: “The winter
migration period brings a heightened risk to poultry and kept
birds and we've seen a recent rise in the number of cases of
avian influenza confirmed in wild and kept birds across the UK.
“Having careful and thorough hygiene and biosecurity measures in
place on a daily basis offers the best protection for kept birds
against this highly infectious disease. All bird keepers in
Wales are encouraged to take action now to protect their flocks
from bird flu and stop it spreading.
“Vigilance is also key. It is important you report any signs or
suspicion of avian influenza in your flock immediately.”
Further advice for keepers of poultry and captive birds on how to
keep their flocks safe is also available on the Welsh
Government's website, including the biosecurity
self-assessment checklist.
It is now also a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Wales
(and England) to register themselves with the Animal and Plant
Health Agency (APHA). By registering birds, APHA will be able to
contact keepers with updates and guidance if there's a disease
outbreak in the area, helping keepers to make informed decisions
to keep birds safe.
Further information on the measures that apply in the zones in
England can be found in Defra's Bird flu: rules in disease
control zones in England - GOV.UK guidance.
The zone declarations are available via the notifiable disease case
finder.
Details of the current national risk levels for avian
influenza can be found at gov.uk/birdflu with
further information on the evidence which supports these levels
available in APHA's risk and outbreak
assessments.
