The National Allotment Society - National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Ltd

Avian Flu prevention zone now extended to England and Wales

January 18th, 2018

Defra have announced this morning 18 January 2018 that following a second finding of AI H5N6 in wild birds in Warwickshire an extended AI prevention zone now applies across the whole of England. This is not a housing order but a legal requirement to follow strict biosecurity procedures and applies to all bird keepers, whether having just a few birds to commercial size flocks.

Defra have explained that this decision by the Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens follows an outbreak last week where 17 wild birds tested positive in Dorset and a total of 31 infected birds have now been identified at that site. Defra took swift action to put a local prevention zone in the area on Friday (12 January). However, as these latest results show that the disease is not isolated to a single site the decision has been taken to extend the prevention zone across the country on a precautionary basis. 

Testing of the birds found in Warwickshire is ongoing, however, it is highly expected that this will be the same H5N6 strain of the virus that which has been circulating in wild birds across Europe in recent months. Public Health England have advised the risk to public health remains very low and the Food Standards Agency have said that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

The prevention zone means bird keepers across the country must:

  • Ensure the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to wild birds, for example by netting ponds, and by removing wild bird food sources;
  • Feed and water your birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds
  • Minimise movement in and out of bird enclosures;
  • Clean and disinfect footwear and keep areas where birds live clean and tidy;
  • Reduce any existing contamination by cleansing and disinfecting concrete areas, and fencing off wet or boggy areas.

The prevention zone will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of our work to monitor the threat of bird flu.

For more information go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#prevention-zone

The full declaration of the extended prevention zone and the detailed biosecurity requirements can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/674627/ai-prevention-zone-180118.pdf

Poultry keepers and members of the public should report dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and keepers should report suspicion of disease to APHA on 03000 200 301.

There are no plans to carry out any culls or put movement restrictions in place.