Avian Influenza

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.

3 Simple Steps to Being Bio Secure

Here at PestFix we have a range of pest control and hygiene products which can assist you in maintaining your biosecurity within a prevention zone and ensure that you meet the legal requirements outlined in the Defra guidelines shown below:

• Defra:
  “Poultry are housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds” “Other captive birds are kept separate from wild birds” Poultry and other captive birds are provided with feed and water which is not accessible to wild birds”
  
  Solution:
  At PestFix we have a wide range of bird netting available which can help you to effectively segregate any poultry from wild birds. If you have not used bird netting before, we also have a bird netting installation guide for your reference.
  
  
• Defra:
  “Any person who comes into contact with poultry and other captive birds must take reasonable precautions to avoid the transfer of contamination between premises, including cleansing and disinfection of equipment, vehicles and footwear.” “Housing and equipment is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at the end of a production cycle” “Disinfectant, at the right concentration, is kept at all key points such as farm entrances and before entering poultry housing or enclosures.”
  
  Solution:
  We have PestFix Disinfectants which are specific to bird control. Including Jeyes Fluid which is approved by Defra under the Diseases of Poultry Order and the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Influenza in Animals Order.
  
  
• Defra:
  “Vermin control programmes are implemented effectively”
  
  Solution:
  PestFix has a comprehensive range of rodent control products, from rat and mouse poison, bait stations, traps, rat and mouse repellents and much more.