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

Small birds
-Credit:PA Archive/PA Images


The Government has confirmed that stringent bird flu measures have been introduced across England and Scotland due to a surge in cases.

A national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) came into effect across England and Scotland from midday on Saturday, with the aim of curbing the spread of the disease among poultry and other captive birds.

Bird keepers in both nations are now legally obligated to adhere to strict regulations to safeguard their flocks against avian flu, including housing birds indoors. The highly infectious avian influenza virus is prevalent among wild birds in the UK, posing a very high risk to poultry and other captive birds, according to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

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A representative from Defra added that they do not foresee an impact on overall egg supplies but are "working closely with industry to monitor the impacts of the outbreak". The UK's chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, highlighted the necessity of taking additional precautions: "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."

She also called on bird keepers to ensure they understand the requirements, maintain strict biosecurity, remain vigilant for signs of disease and report any suspected cases immediately 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 for consumption. 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, the rules stipulate regular changes of clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures, as well as thorough cleaning and disinfection of site vehicles. A mandatory housing order already in place across East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk has been extended to include 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, emphasised: "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 National 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, stated: "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."

He added: "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."