News story: Avian influenza (bird flu) in winter 2016 to 2017

Updated: Updated: Surveillance Zone restrictions around the 16 January case near Louth, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire have been removed.

Avian influenza (bird flu) is a disease of birds. The H5N8 strain of the disease has been found in wild and farmed birds in the UK. A number of measures are in place to reduce the risk of the disease spreading.

Public Health England advises that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said there is no food safety risk for UK consumers.

Where avian influenza has been confirmed, we put restrictions in place to limit the spread of disease, and investigate the source of the infection.

Latest situation

The H5N8 strain of the disease has been confirmed at a poultry farm in Suffolk, three linked premises on a commercial game farm in Lancashire, three separate poultry farms in Lincolnshire and in backyard flocks in North Yorkshire and Carmarthenshire. Protection and Surveillance Zone restrictions remain in place at the following sites:

Redgrave, Suffolk (confirmed on 14 February following introduction of a Temporary Control Zone on 13 February) Wyre, Lancashire (confirmed on 27 January 2017, updated 30 January with a case at a further linked premises) Boston, Lincolnshire (confirmed on 26 January 2017) Wyre, Lancashire (confirmed on 24 January 2017)

Use our interactive map to check if you live within the Protection or Surveillance zones around any infected premises, or within the ‘Higher Risk’ areas we expect to put in place from 28 February 2017.

The same strain has also been found in wild birds in England, Scotland and Wales. We publish a list of cases where we find avian influenza in wild birds.

H5N8 has been circulating in wild birds in Europe for several months – we publish details of the situation in the latest veterinary outbreak assessment.

If you keep poultry and captive birds

Read a guide for keepers of backyard flocks on how to reduce the risk to your birds from Avian Flu.

If you keep poultry you are required to take action to reduce the risk of avian flu spreading.

All poultry keepers – whether commercial farmers or those with a small backyard flock – are currently required by law to house poultry or otherwise keep them separate from wild birds. This is because a Prevention Zone is currently in force across the UK. This applies until 28 February 2017.

We have done this to reduce the risks of the disease spreading, and to help protect poultry and captive birds from avian flu.

All poultry keepers are required to take steps to reduce the risk of infection via the environment, for example in wild bird droppings, by practising good biosecurity. You should do this even if your birds are inside. You should read our detailed guidance on what you need to do.

If you have a backyard flock, you should read our short, simple advice on how to comply with these rules and how to protect birds’ welfare when they’re housed.

We have also banned gatherings of poultry across the UK. This applies to birds including chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese, and restricts events such as livestock fairs, auctions and bird shows.

Advice on rearing game birds and shooting whilst the Prevention Zone is in force is available from The National Gamekeepers Organisation.

After 28 February

From 28 February we anticipate adopting a more targeted approach, with mandatory biosecurity measures across the country and continued housing or range netting in higher risk areas. Anyone planning to allow their birds outdoors from 28 February must take action now to reduce the risk of infection from birds being let outside by following Defra guidance. You can find out whether, based on current risk levels, you are likely to be affected using our interactive map.

Video: advice for keepers of backyard flocks

Bird flu advice for poultry keepers

Reporting suspicion of disease in your poultry

For advice and guidance on what to do if you keep poultry or to report suspicion of disease in animals, call the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301 or read our detailed guidance on avian influenza.

Reporting dead wild birds

Members of the public should report dead wild birds - such as swans, geese, ducks, gulls or birds of prey - to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77. Defra will then collect some of these birds and test them to help us understand how the disease is distributed geographically and in different types of bird.

Advice from the Chief Vet

Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens has issued the following statement:

The Government has taken swift action to limit the spread of the disease, with restrictions around affected premises and wider measures in place across the country.

To reduce the risk of bird flu spreading from bird to bird there is currently a legal requirement for all poultry keepers – even those who just keep a few birds as pets – to keep their birds housed or otherwise separate from wild birds. There is also a ban on poultry gatherings.

Bird flu is also transmitted via the environment, for example in wild bird droppings, and it is vital that keepers practice strict biosecurity. This means taking precautions such as putting up netting, keeping food and water inside and disinfecting footwear and equipment after contact with birds.

Further information Detailed guidance on avian influenza (bird flu): latest situation; how to spot it and report it Specific advice on biosecurity requirements Food Standards Agency advice Public Health England advice Health and Safety Executive advice on protecting workers from avian influenza Latest veterinary outbreak assessment on H5N8 in the UK and Europe Results of findings of H5N8 in wild birds in Great Britain Government announcements on avian influenza 13 February 2017, updated on 14 February 2017: Avian Flu confirmed at a farm near Redgrave in Suffolk 8 February 2017: Update on on biosecurity measures to protect against Avian Flu 27 January 2017: Avian flu confirmed at a farm in Wyre, Lancashire 26 January 2017: Avian flu confirmed at a farm near Boston, Lincolnshire 24 January 2017: Avian flu confirmed at a farm in Wyre, Lancashire 16 January 2017: Avian Flu confirmed at a farm in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire 6 January 2017: Avian flu confirmed in backyard flock in Yorkshire 4 January 2017: Avian flu prevention zone extended 4 January 2017: Extension of Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (Scottish Government) 4 January 2017: Cabinet Secretary declares extension of Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (Welsh Government) 3 January 2017: Avian influenza H5N8 in a backyard flock of chickens and ducks in Carmarthenshire (Welsh Government) 23 December 2016: Avian influenza (bird flu) in wild birds in England and Scotland 23 December 2016: Avian influenza in wild bird in Scotland (Scottish Government) 22 December 2016: Poultry keepers urged to maintain biosecurity as avian influenza (bird flu) is found in wild duck in Carmarthenshire 22 December 2016: Avian influenza in wild duck in Carmarthenshire (Welsh government) 20 December 2016: Poultry gatherings suspended 16 December 2016: Avian influenza (bird flu) at Lincolnshire farm 6 December 2016: New measures to protect poultry against avian flu

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-winter-2016-to-2017

seen at 02:30, 20 February in Announcements on GOV.UK.
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