Welsh Government issues an update on the Avian flu protection zone in Wales

The Welsh Government has issued an updated statement regarding Avian. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths and the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Christianne Glossop issued the joint statement today after the discovery of the H5N8 strain of avian flu. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The confirmed cases were identified in turkeys at a farm near Louth in Lincolnshire today (16 December) ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This follows several confirmed cases earlier this month in mainland Europe. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone around the infected farm has been put in place. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A detailed investigation is in progress to determine the most likely source of this outbreak. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To date, there have no reported cases of Avian Influenza in Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

On 6th December, as a precautionary measure, the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs ordered the introduction of a Prevention Zone in Wales that requires keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep their birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The same arrangements are in place in England and Scotland. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Although there have been no confirmed cases of H5N8 in Wales it is absolutely vital all bird keepers continue to practice the very highest levels of biosecurity and they remain vigilant for any signs of the disease. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Clothing and equipment should be disinfected, the movement of poultry should be reduced and contact between poultry and wild birds should be minimised. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Prevention Zone requires 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 risk to human health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has confirmed it is safe to eat poultry meat such as turkey, goose and chicken. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

If you are concerned about the health of your birds you should seek advice from your veterinary surgeon. If you suspect that your birds have AI, you should report it to your local Animal and Plant Health Agency office. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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