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Those who keep birds must follow the official guidelines provided by the Chief Veterinary Officer and practise the highest level of biosecurity[/caption]
Poultry keepers in Carmarthenshire need to be aware of a confirmed case of Avian Influenza H5N8, which was confirmed in a back yard flock of chickens and ducks on a premises in Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire.
A 3 kilometer Protection Zone and 10 kilometer Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises, to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
Those who keep poultry are advised to contact their veterinary surgeon if they are concerned about the health of their birds and if they suspect that their birds are showing signs of the disease are advised to immediately report it to the local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) office.
Members of the public are encouraged to report dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or gulls, or five or more dead wild birds of other species in the same location, to the Defra helpline on 03459 335577.
The virus found in Carmarthenshire is the same strain of the virus identified in a wild duck in Llanelli on 22 December, a turkey farm in Lincolnshire on 16 December and cases in wild, captive or domestic birds in many European countries, the Middle East and North Africa.
FUW Senior Policy Officer Dr Hazel Wright said: “This is a worry for our poultry farmers and anyone who keeps chickens, ducks and other poultry in a small or private capacity. I urge those who keep birds to follow the official guidelines provided by the Chief Veterinary Officer and practise the highest level of biosecurity.”
The risk to public health is classed as low, that’s according to advice from Public Health Wales (PHW), and the Food Standards Agency has made it clear that avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
Poultry keepers are further encouraged to provide details of their flocks to the Poultry Register, which will ensure they can be contacted immediately in the event of an avian disease outbreak so that they can take action to protect their flock at the earliest opportunity.
What does the Restriction Zone mean?
The restrictions in place mean that all premises with poultry and/or captive birds within the zones will continue to house their birds, if possible. The movement of birds, mammals and other things, such as carcasses, eggs, used poultry litter and manure, on or off premises where poultry are present and out of the Protection and Surveillance Zones are banned except under license. No gatherings of poultry or the release of game birds are also allowed in the zones. Information on the restrictions in place within the zones can be found at: http://gov.wales/topics/environmentcountryside/ahw/disease/avianflu/?lang=enand.
What does the Prevention Zone mean?
A Prevention Zone was also established in Wales on the 6th December, which requires all keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep their birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate, and protect them, from wild birds. Further steps were taken to protect poultry and captive birds by introducing a temporary suspension on gatherings of poultry.