Bird flu restrictions to cover England and Scotland as number of cases rise

tractor drives past a sign that says 'animal disease control zone'
-Credit:PA Archive/PA Images


Strict bird flu measures have been deployed across England and Scotland due to a surge in cases, according to official announcements. The whole of England and Scotland are now under a national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) which came into effect at midday on Saturday to curb the spread among poultry and captive birds.

Bird keepers in both Scotland and England are legally obliged to adhere to stringent safety measures to shield their birds from the avian flu – this includes housing them indoors. The UK is currently facing an active circulation of the highly contagious bird flu virus amongst wild birds, and as per the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the risk to poultry and captive birds remains critically high.

A Defra spokesperson has indicated there is no expected disruption in egg supplies at present, but they are "working closely with industry to monitor the impacts of the outbreak".

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UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: "Given the continued increase in the number of bird flu cases across England, we are taking further action to try and prevent the further spread of disease."

Middlemiss also pressed bird owners to confirm which regulations apply to them, maintain high standards of biosecurity, stay vigilant for any symptoms of the illness, and immediately report any suspicions to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

The Government has reassured the public that the risk to human health remains low and that properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to consume. The new measures apply to all bird keepers, regardless of whether they own pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few backyard birds.

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For those with more than 500 birds, rules include regularly changing clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and cleansing and disinfecting site vehicles. A mandatory housing order currently in place across the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk has been extended to cover York and North Yorkshire.

Following an outbreak in Shropshire, a new housing order has been issued and is set to come into effect on Monday.

Scotland’s deputy chief vet officer, Jesus Gallego, said: "While the risk to public health is very low, we are currently experiencing a heightened risk of an incursion from this virus and so it is vital that appropriate precautions are taken to protect poultry and other captive birds from infection."

He added that the introduction of this zone is a preventative measure aimed at minimising the impact of this often devastating virus on Scottish-kept birds.

The Nation Farmers Union (NFU) has supported the Government’s decision, highlighting that bird flu outbreaks can have a "huge emotional and financial" toll on farming families.

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James Mottershead, the NFU’s poultry board chairman, said: "We are pleased the government has acted promptly on this issue to protect the national flock with an AIPZ being implemented across England and Scotland with the Welsh Government expected to follow shortly.

"While housing measures have been extended into Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire, we urge the respective governments to keep this under constant review and extend this requirement where necessary.

"Outbreaks of avian influenza can put huge emotional and financial strain on farming families.

"Farmers take such care to protect the health and welfare of their birds and it’s devastating to see that compromised.

“In light of cases of avian influenza being confirmed and the increased risk levels for both wild birds and poultry, I urge all bird keepers, regardless of their size or location, to remain vigilant, maintain stringent biosecurity measures and report any signs of disease in their birds at the earliest opportunity.”