Bird flu is not quite a thing of the past, there have been several outbreaks in commercial poultry toward the eastern side of the country. Along with the biosecurity precautions we all expect to be taking, there is now a regional avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) covering the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, Norfolk and Suffolk to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring.
- All bird keepers are urged to remain vigilant and take action to protect their birds following the recent cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
- A regional avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) mandating enhanced biosecurity for all types and sizes of kept bird, has been declared in the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, Norfolk and Suffolk to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring.
- Keepers can check if they are in an avian influenza disease control or prevention zone using the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) interactive map.
- Further information on the measures that apply in the zones can be found in Defra’s Bird flu: rules in disease control zones in England - GOV.UK guidance and the zone declarations available via the notifiable disease case finder on gov.uk.
- Disease control zones will remain in place until all disease control and surveillance activities in the zones have been successfully completed and there are no suspect cases are under investigation in the zones.
- 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.
- Practicing good biosecurity at all times protects the health and welfare of birds and for commercial keepers will help protect their business from HPAI and other diseases.
- For further information on the latest situation and guidance including on what bird keepers can do to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading and how to spot and report it in poultry or other captive birds see gov.uk/birdflu
