An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, or AIPZ, has been declared across four counties in England after bird flu was detected in a number of wild and captive birds in the region.
The counties affected are the East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. These areas are home to a huge number of the UK’s “intensive farms”, meaning they have capacity for housing at least 40,000 poultry birds – and, some have argued, the perfect conditions for avian flu to spread.
While health authorities stress that the risk to human health remains low, the declaration of the AIPZ by the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss has practical consequences for all bird keepers and poultry farmers in the affected areas.
Effective immediately, bird keepers within the zone must: cleanse and disinfect all clothing and footwear before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – or, ideally, use disposable protective clothing; cleanse and disinfect equipment and vehicles at the same times; thoroughly and continuously cleanse and disinfect the bird housing; and make sure fresh disinfectants are available at all farm and poultry housing entrances and exits.
Also, efforts must be taken to reduce the movement of people, equipment, and birds in and out of the farm and housing. All feed and water must be kept away from wild birds, and equally kept birds must stay away from open ponds and waterways. Vermin control must be stepped up at the same time.
These are all measures to reduce interaction between captive birds and wildlife – thus reducing the likelihood of any undetected infection breaking out of the farmed population.
“The introduction of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone means regardless of the number of birds you keep, you are required to meet enhanced biosecurity requirements to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease,” explained Aled Edwards, Animal Plant Health Agency Head of England Field Delivery, in a statement this Friday.
“Scientists, vets and field teams from the Animal and Plant Health Agency are working hard to help tackle the spread of avian influenza and ensure bird keepers are kept up to date and supported,” he said.
Pets kept in the home, such as budgies or parrots, are not currently included in the measure – unless their owners live within three kilometers of a premises where bird flu has been detected – though this may change based on how the situation develops.
“All bird keepers in [affected] areas must take enhanced biosecurity actions now to both help prevent disease getting in to flocks and it stop it spreading any further,” Middlemiss advised. “Bird keepers must exercise robust biosecurity measures, remain alert for any signs of disease and report suspected disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.”
Meanwhile, the AIPZ will remain in place until further notice. It bears repeating, though, that the current risk to human health is “very low”, per UK government advice, and “properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.”
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