Bird flu is detected in poultry in East Devon
APROTECTION zone has been declared around premises in Exmouth after bird flu was detected in a flock of backyard poultry in the Devon town.
The strain of Avian flu has been confirmed by government scientists.
An update posted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on Tuesday stated: “Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed in backyard poultry at a premises near Exmouth, Devon.
“A 3km Protection Zone and 10km
Surveillance Zone has been declared around the premises.”
A warning was issued to bird owners in November about the dangers of H5N8. New rules were also introduced. This followed confirmation that swans in Dawlish had died from the disease. Bird owners in Exmouth have been informed about the latest developments.
All bird keepers in England (whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) are required by law to take a range of biosecurity precautions including keeping their birds indoors except in very specific circumstances.
Thousands of birds across the county have been slaughtered in the past few weeks. Temporary control zones are declared around premises when the virus is detected.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been declared across the whole of England to reduce the risk of the disease spreading. The flu spreads between birds by direct contact or through contaminated bodily fluids, and can also be spread by contaminated feed, water, or by dirty clothing and footwear.
Public Health England said the risk to the public from the virus is “very low”, and food standards agencies have said that it does not affect the consumption of poultry products.
For details of the measures that apply in the various zones, go to www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#movement