Declared a nationwide AI prevention zone for the UK

Christine Middlemiss said the action legally required all bird keepers in England, Scotland and Wales to follow strict biosecurity measures to prevent further spread of the virus.

Whether you keep only a few or thousands of birds, you are now legally required to meet the advanced biosecurity requirements and this is in your best interest, to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease. “

Christine Middlemiss said the action legally required all bird keepers in England, Scotland and Wales to follow strict biosecurity measures to prevent further spread of the virus. Photo: Tamara Reijers

This is followed by confirmation of a highly pathogenic H5N8 outbreak in broiler breeding chickens on a farm near Leominster, Herefordshire, last week. Earlier this month, a similar high-path H5N8 case was found in Frodsham, Cheshire and a low-pathogenic H5N2 case was confirmed in Deal, Kent. Cases of H5N8 have also been found in dead wild birds in Devon, Dorset and Gloucestershire, as well as in County Derry in Northern Ireland.

PZ requires all bird keepers, including backyard and hobby breeders, in the UK to:

• Take precautions against the transfer of viral contamination between sites or premises, including cleaning and disinfecting footwear, vehicles and equipment
• Ensuring that the area where the birds are kept is not attractive to wild birds, for example through netted ponds
• Eat and water birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds
• Minimize the movement of people in and out of bird pens
• Clean and disinfect footwear and keep areas where birds live clean and tidy
• Reduce any existing contamination by cleaning and disinfecting concrete areas and fencing wet or marshy areas
• Exercise effective rodent control in areas where poultry are kept
• Record all vehicles and people that come into contact with birds
• Record all movements of poultry, captive birds and eggs
• Make sure the bird house is well maintained, with any water leaks or rectified contamination paths.

For poultry in the wild, farmers must fence and secure all outdoor areas to keep birds within range, ensuring no fecal matter from wild birds contaminates the unit. Access to open or standing water is limited; feed and water are kept indoors; birds should not come into contact with neighboring poultry and concrete paths and walkways should be disinfected regularly.

Those with more than 500 birds are required to take extra biosecurity measures, which include:

• Implement effective reef hygiene, including changing clothing and footwear before entering and exiting the live bird area
• Access to the live birds area is limited to authorized personnel and essential equipment and vehicles
• Thorough cleaning and disinfection of housing and equipment should be done at the end of the production run prior to the introduction of new birds
• Regular checks are carried out on the structural integrity of the chicken coops
• Egg producers will need to ensure that the packing, handling and storage of second grade / farm second eggs are managed in a biosecure manner
• Egg trays must be cleaned and disinfected before use and records must be kept.

Aimee Mahony, National Farmers’ Union Chief Poultry Consultant, said, “The health and welfare of their birds is top priority for farmers and practicing good biosecurity is the best way to protect them from this disease.” Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, added: “We are working with Defra and are staying vigilant on poultry sites to minimize the risk to the national flock.”