Bird flu case near Soham confirmed as disease spreads west

A confirmed case avian influenza (bird flu) near Soham has resulted in a 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone to try to stop the further spread of the disease, as calls mount for a nationwide housing order to be introduced following an upsurge in bird flu outbreaks in the past month.

The controlled zone was imposed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Cambridgeshire County Council has a role in supporting Defra and APHA as part of the national animal disease contingency plan, with its trading standards team responsible for identifying all captive birds within the protection zone. This will involve officers calling at homes within the zone next week to ascertain if birds are kept at that location. If they are, the information will be referred to the APHA for veterinary assessment to determine if a health check on the birds is required.

The order introduces housing requirements for all poultry and captive birds that fall within the zone. It also introduces requirements in relation to record keeping, biosecurity, and the cleansing and disinfection of vehicles. Bird gatherings and the release of game birds are also prohibited within the 3km zone. An interactive APHA map of the avian flu outbreaks is available here.

The trading standards authority is also responsible for enforcement of the rules within the Declaratory Order.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council said: “These rules are there to protect not only livelihoods and valuable commercial bird stocks but also much-loved pets and, with such a virulent strain, it is vital bird keepers adhere to them. Anyone with concerns about breaches should report the information to Cambridgeshire County Council’s customer services team on 0345 0455206.”

A compulsory housing order for all poultry and captive birds – both commercial premises and pets or hobby flocks – is in place in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex after 27 outbreaks in the past month.

Peter Gell, assistant director regulatory services at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “I would encourage all poultry keepers to familiarise themselves with, and do their utmost to comply with, all restrictions now in place.

“We are a rural county, blessed with a wide range of commercial bird keepers. Their livelihoods and health of their flocks depend on all bird keepers – large and small – doing their bit to prevent the further spread of this disease.

“Check your birds frequently for symptoms of bird flu – know the tell-tale signs and immediately report any ill-health to your veterinarian. If you suspect Bird Flu you should contact the DEFRA rural services helpline on 03000 200 301.”

Road signs will also be erected by Cambridgeshire County Council on the main entry points to the zone on behalf of the APHA to make bird transporters aware they are entering an animal disease control zone.

Here are resources for those who need further information.

- In terms of the risk to public health, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. Nevertheless, the public are being asked not to touch dead wild birds, but should report them to DEFRA by calling 03459 33 55 77.

- The full list of requirements for the local zones can be found in the Declaratory Order here.

- Government data on avian flu here.

- If you aren’t sure if you fall within the zone you can put the postcode of where your bird stock is located into APHA’s interactive map. Bird keepers with 50 or more birds must register with the APHA, but APHA is actively encouraging all bird keepers to register, even if they have less than 50 birds, as it enables them to keep you up to date with Avian Influenza developments.

- You can also sign up to DEFRA’s animal disease text alert service.

- APHA is also encouraging all bird keepers to view their ‘Stop the Spread’ webinars available here.

The Food Standards Agency has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, it says, remain safe to eat.