An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone , or AIPZ , has been declare across four counties in England after bird flu was detected in a number of hazardous and captive birds in the region .
The county affected are the East Riding of Yorkshire , Lincolnshire , Norfolk and Suffolk . These areas are home toa huge numberof the UK ’s “ intensive farm ” , meaning they have capacity for housing at least 40,000 poultry Bronx cheer – and , some have argued , the perfect conditions for avian flu to spread .
While health potency accentuate that the risk to human health remains low , the declaration of the AIPZ by the UK ’s Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss has pragmatic aftermath for all bird keepers and poultry Farmer in the affected areas .
Effective forthwith , wench keeper within the zone must : cleanse and disinfect all clothing and footgear before and after contact with domestic fowl and captive birds – or , ideally , use disposable protective clothing ; cleanse and disinfect equipment and vehicles at the same times ; exhaustively and continuously cleanse and disinfect the bird housing ; and make trusted clean antimicrobial are useable at all farm and poultry housing entrances and release .
Also , efforts must be taken to reduce the cause of multitude , equipment , and bird in and out of the farm and housing . All feed and urine must be keep away from wild bird , and equally kept birds must stick around away from open ponds and waterway . varmint controller must be stepped up at the same fourth dimension .
These are all measure to trim fundamental interaction between captive shuttlecock and wildlife – thus reducing the likelihood of any undetected infection break out of the farmed population .
“ The introduction of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone means regardless of the number of raspberry you keep , you are need to converge enhanced biosecurity requirements to protect your shuttle from this extremely infectious disease , ” explain Aled Edwards , Animal Plant Health Agency Head of England Field Delivery , in astatementthis Friday .
“ Scientists , vets and field squad from the Animal and Plant Health Agency are working hard to help tackle the spread of avian influenza and ensure wench keepers are kept up to day of the month and supported , ” he said .
Pets keep in the home , such as budgies or parrot , are not currently included in the amount – unless their owners livewithin three kilometersof a premises where shuttlecock flu has been detected – though this may change found on how the situation educate .
“ All bird keepers in [ stirred ] areas must take enhanced biosecurity actions now to both assist foreclose disease getting in to flocks and it finish it spreading any further , ” Middlemiss advised . “ Bird keepers must drill robust biosecurity measures , remain alert for any mark of disease and report suspected disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency . ”
Meanwhile , the AIPZ will remain in home until further notice . It birth repeating , though , that the current risk to human wellness is “ very low ” , per UK government advice , and “ the right way make poultry and poultry product , include eggs , are good to eat . ”
