The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr Richard Irvine has announced plans to lift the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone housing measures for poultry and captive birds in England and Wales from 00:01 on Tuesday 18th April 2023. However, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone mandatory biosecurity measures will remain in place for all birds.
Since September 2022, there have been 7 confirmed cases of Avian influenza in Wales, with a few of the many cases confirmed in England affecting Wales where disease Protection and Surveillance zones overlapped borders into Wales.
A UK wide inventory held by Animal and Plant Health Agency reports a total of two confirmed cases of Avian Influenza in wild birds from Wales in 2023, both occurring in Common Buzzard from Gwynedd and Powys areas.
The biosecurity risk of infection from wild birds to poultry and captive birds continues, therefore APHA will uphold the requirements of enhanced biosecurity and rigorous hygiene measures to protect birds from infection, this also includes a mandatory biosecurity self-assessment checklist than can be found here.