Four Bird Flu prevention zones have been enforced in the UK after a ‘highly infectious’ strain has been detected.
The government’s chief vet has declared Avian Influenza Prevention Zones across East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
This means as of yesterday it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers within these areas to follow measures to protect their flocks.
Measures include thoroughly cleaning the bird’s housing, personal workwear, and minimising contact between captive and wild birds.
Captive birds must also have no access to ponds and other bodies of water used by other animals.
It is not known when the prevention zones will come to an end.
Birdkeepers within the zones must follow strict measures to stop the spread of Bird Flu.
The areas include East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, bird keeper must:
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: ‘Following a number of detections of avian influenza we have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston Upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
‘This means that all bird keepers in these areas must take enhanced biosecurity actions now to both help prevent disease getting in to flocks and it stop it spreading any further.
‘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.’
In June a person died after contracting a strain of bird flu never confirmed in humans before, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
The virus was detected in a 59-year-old in Mexico City, Mexico, who was taken to hospital after developing a fever, shortness of breath and diarrhoea on April 17.
They died just one week later.
‘This is the first laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with an influenza A(H5N2) virus reported globally,’ WHO said in a report, referring to the H5N2 strain of the virus sweeping poultry farms.
The victim had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals, WHO said, and had several underlying medical conditions.
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