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In this issue:
Highly pathogenic
H5N6 bird flu has been detected in wild birds in Warwickshire.
This is the second
confirmed finding of the virus in the UK this winter, following the finding in
Dorset earlier this month (January 2018). Tests have shown both cases are
closely related to the H6N6 strain circulating in wild birds across Europe in
recent months.
This is different
to the H5N6 strain which affected people in China last year and Public Health
England have advised the risk to public health is very low. The Food Standards
Agency have also offered reassurance that bird flu does not pose a food safety
risk for UK consumers.
A National Avian
Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been declared for the whole of England.
This means it is
mandatory for all captive bird keepers in England to put enhanced biosecurity
measures in place. This Zone
will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as
part of our work to monitor the threat of bird flu.
It is vital that
anyone who keeps birds, whether a few in a back garden or thousands on a
commercial unit is vigilant.
All poultry keepers should:
-
minimise movement in and out of
bird enclosures
- clean footwear before and after
visiting birds, using a Government approved disinfectant at
entrances and exits
- clean and disinfect vehicles
and equipment that have come into contact with poultry
- keep areas where birds live
clean and tidy, and regularly disinfect hard surfaces such as paths and
walkways
- humanely control rats and mice
- place birds’ food and water in
fully enclosed areas protected from wild birds, and remove any spilled
feed regularly
- keep birds separate from
wildlife and wild waterfowl by putting suitable fencing around outdoor
areas they access
- keep a close watch on birds for
any signs of disease and report any very sick birds or unexplained deaths
to your vet
Poultry keepers and
members of the public should report dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on
0345 933 5577 and bird keepers should report suspicion of disease to APHA on
0300 020 0301.
For
more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams
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