Poultry gatherings banned amid spate of avian flu cases
8th November 2021
The ban comes into force today (8th November) after another case of H5N1 was confirmed in Warwickshire.
Defra has banned gatherings of poultry, galliforme or anseriforme birds, from 8th November, to help curb the spread of avian influenza.
Galliforme birds include pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey and guinea fowl, while anseriforme birds include ducks, geese and swans.
Gatherings of all other types of birds except poultry, galliforme and anseriforme birds are permitted, but the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) must be notified at least seven days before the event and the gathering must meet the requirements of the general licence.
Gatherings include (but are not limited to) bird fairs, markets, shows, sales, exhibitions and some premises used for dealing or internet sales. Vehicles used to transport live birds where the birds are brought together from multiple premises (so called many-to-one or many-to-many activities) are also considered gatherings.
The move follows a string of recent H5N1 avian influenza cases in the UK, with the most recent being confirmed at a small poultry unit near Alcester, Warwickshire.
A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone has been declared around the premises.
H5N1 was also confirmed in birds at a premises in the Angus constituency in Scotland, and further testing confirmed it to be a highly pathogenic strain (HPAI H5N1).
A case of HPAI H5N1 was also confirmed in backyard chickens and wild birds at a premises near Chirk, Wales, and at a wild bird rescue centre near Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire.
The risk of incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 in wild birds was recently increased from medium to high, while the risk of poultry and captive bird exposure across Great Britain has increased from low to medium where biosecurity on the premises is below the required standard.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is in place across Great Britain, effective from 3rdNovember. It means all bird keepers are required by law to take a range of biosecurity precautions.
For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#AIPZ
