An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone declaration was made by Defra on the 6th January 2017 (replacing the earlier declaration made in December 2016). Declarations have also been made in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The zones require the immediate and compulsory housing of domestic chickens, hens, turkeys and ducks, or where this is not practical, their complete separation from contact with wild birds. For farmed geese, gamebirds and other captive birds, keepers should take practical steps to keep these birds separate from wild birds.
The prevention zone therefore effects:
- Poultry Farms
- Poultry Transport Firms
- Abattoirs
- Zoos
- Pet Shops
- Falconers / Falconry Centres
- Private Poultry Keepers
Defra have taken this action because of the increased risk of avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK. Since the autumn of 2016, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 have been found in poultry and wild birds in several countries across Europe.
The Prevention Zones help reduce the risk of poultry coming into contact with wild birds which that could carry the virus, or with their droppings. They also reduce the potential for any food or water that poultry use to become contaminated by wild birds.
Even when birds are housed there is still a risk of infection, which is why there is an ongoing need for good biosecurity. Biosecurity means taking steps to ensure the risk of a disease occurring or spreading within or from your premises is minimised.