Zone declared in Scotland and England.
Following an increase in the number of detections of avian
influenza (bird flu) in wild birds and other captive birds, the
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer from Scotland and Chief
Veterinary Officer from England have declared a national Avian
Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) to mitigate the risk of the
disease spreading amongst poultry and other captive birds.
This means that from 12:00 noon on Saturday 25 January, it
will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Scotland and
England to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect
their flocks from the threat of avian flu.
Surveillance has indicated that the highly pathogenic avian
influenza H5N1 virus is currently circulating in wild birds in
the UK and their risk to poultry and other captive birds is
currently assessed as being very high. Maintaining strict
biosecurity is the most effective method of protecting birds from
the virus.
Keepers with more than 500 birds will need to restrict access for
non-essential people on their sites, workers will need to change
clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and site
vehicles will need to be cleansed and disinfected regularly to
limit the risk of the disease spreading. Backyard owners with
smaller numbers of poultry including chickens, ducks and geese
must also take steps to limit the risk of the disease
spreading to their animals.
Public Health Scotland advises that the risk to public health
from the virus is very low and Food Standards Scotland advises
that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for
consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products,
including eggs, are safe to eat.
Scotland's Deputy Chief Vet Officer Jesus Gallego said;
“While the risk to public health is very low, we are currently
experiencing a heightened risk of an incursion from this virus
and so it is vital that appropriate precautions are taken to
protect poultry and other captive birds from infection. The
introduction of this zone is a preventative measure, aimed at
minimising the effect that this, often devastating virus, can
have on Scottish kept birds”.
Background
Avian influenza (bird flu)
outbreaks - gov.scot
Avian influenza (bird
flu): how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot
Wild bird surveillance -
Avian influenza (bird flu): how to spot and report the disease -
gov.scot
The AIPZ means bird keepers across Scotland and England
must:
- Keep free ranging birds within fenced areas, and ponds,
watercourses and permanent standing water must be fenced off
(except in specific circumstances, e.g. zoo birds)
- Cleanse and disinfect footwear and keep areas where birds
live clean and tidy;
- Minimise movement in and out of bird enclosures;
- Reduce any existing contamination by cleansing and
disinfecting concrete areas, and fencing off wet or boggy areas
- Keep domestic ducks and geese separate from other poultr
- Ensure the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to
wild birds, for example by netting ponds, and by removing wild
bird food sources;
- Feed and water your birds in enclosed areas to discourage
wild birds;
Keepers should familiarise themselves with our avian flu advice
at www.gov.scot/avianinfluenza and
report suspicion of disease to your local APHA Field Services
Office.
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone 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.
Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you
find. Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious
to people. In Great Britain, if you find at the same time:
- a single dead bird of prey, swan, goose, duck or gull or
- five or more dead wild birds of any other species
you should report them on gov.uk's report dead wild birds page.
