Chief vets declare avian flu prevention zone across GB

After a number of recent avian influenza cases in wild and captive birds, chief veterinary officers for England, Scotland and Wales have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across the whole of Great Britain.

From 5pm yesterday (3^rd November) it became a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Great Britain to follow strict biosecurity measures.

Keepers across GB with more than 500 birds will now 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 cleaned 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.

The AIPZ does not include a requirement to house birds but this is being kept under constant review, Defra said.

The decision to introduce the AIPZ comes after cases were confirmed in captive birds in England, Scotland and Wales, and in wild birds at multiple sites.

H5N1 was confirmed at a premises in the Angus constituency, Scotland, and further testing confirmed a recent case of H5N1 near Chirk, Wrexham in Wales, was a highly pathogenic strain. Restrictions also remain in place around a wild bird rescue centre near Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, after HPAI H5N1 was confirmed there.

The risk level for avian influenza incursion in wild Birds in Great Britain was also recently raised from ‘medium’ to ‘high’. For poultry and captive birds, the risk level has been raised from ‘low’ to ‘medium’ at premises where biosecurity is below the required standards, but remains ‘low’ where stringent biosecurity measures are applied.

In a joint statement the chief veterinary officers for England, Scotland and Wales said: “Following a number of detections of avian influenza in wild birds across Great Britain we have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across the whole of Great Britain. This means that all bird keepers must take action now to prevent the disease spreading to poultry and other domestic birds.

“Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, you are now legally required to introduce higher biosecurity standards on your farm or small holding. It is in your interests to do so in order to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.

“The UK health agencies have confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and UK food standards agencies advise that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.”