Biosecurity alert over bird flu flock
Keepers tighten security against deadly virus
A BIRD flu prevention zone has been enforced in a bid to stop the deadly disease spreading to poultry.
The emergency measure was put in place last night, hours after a flock of birds tested positive in Scotland.
As of yesterday, bird keepers across Britain are legally required to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks this winter. People with more than 500 birds inside the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) must restrict non-essential access and ensure workers change clothing and footwear before entering enclosures.
Vehicles must also be disinfected regularly to halt the spread of the disease.
Owners with smaller numbers of poultry including chickens, ducks and geese are also expected to tighten controls. The measures come just seven weeks before Christmas, amid fears of turkey shortages due to supply problems.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the AIPZ at 5pm yesterday after detecting the disease in both wild and captive birds in England, Wales and Scotland.
Cases were reportedly recorded in a flock of kept birds in Angus, although the Scottish Government did not say exactly where.
Unaffected birds at the premises are due to be ‘humanely culled’.
In a joint statement, the chief veterinary officers for England, Scotland and Wales said: ‘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.
‘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.’
Scotland’s chief veterinary officer Sheila Voas added: ‘We are conducting further tests to establish the pathogenicity of avian influenza H5N1 in a flock of birds in Angus.
‘Keepers who are concerned about the health or welfare of their flock should seek veterinary advice immediately. Private vets, or the local Animal and Plant Health Agency office, will also be able to provide practical advice.
‘If a single dead wild waterfowl [swans, geese or ducks], a single dead bird of prey, or five or more dead wild birds of any other species [including gulls] are found at the same place and time, this should be reported to Defra’s national helpline. Do not touch or pick up dead or visibly sick birds.’
In Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, more than 20 swans have died in little more than a week, according to former mayor Cyril Bennis.
The 72-year-old, who runs Stratford Swan Rescue, described the situation as the worst he has seen in 40 years.
He added: ‘It’s massively important to contain this disease. The swans’ whole nervous system breaks down and they spin in circles, they go blind, bumping into everything... they are dying before our eyes. It’s devastating.’
Defra is investigating, but has not yet confirmed the presence of bird flu in the town.