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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 18th April 2023
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Poultry allowed outside as avian flu restrictions lift
Measures remain in place to prevent wild birds from infecting kept birds.
Bird keepers urged to maintain high biosecurity standards.

Mandatory housing for all poultry and kept birds has ended today (Tuesday, 18 April) in England and Wales, but bird keepers are being urged to maintain rigorous biosecurity standards to prevent avian influenza from spreading.

Keepers will still be legally required to follow hygiene and disease prevention rules. The guidance includes:
  • cleaning and disinfecting footwear by using foot dips before entering enclosures
  • netting standing water and ponds
  • maintaining bird houses and sheds to prevent wild birds and contaminated water from entering
  • minimising the movement of people in and out of bird enclosures.
The easing of restrictions follows a reduction in avian flu risk levels. Poultry and kept birds will be allowed outside again, although housing will still be mandatory in Protection Zones around locations where a case has been confirmed.

Mandatory housing remains in place in Northern Ireland. The measure was never introduced in Scotland.

There have been 150 cases in England and six cases in Wales since October 2022, with new cases confirmed this month in Powys and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Chief veterinary officer for Wales, Richard Irvine said: “Rigorous and scrupulous hygiene and biosecurity measures offer the best protection for kept birds against avian influenza. Whether keepers have a few birds or a thousand, it is vital the very highest standards of biosecurity are maintained.

“Vigilance is also key, and it’s important any signs or suspicion of avian influenza is reported immediately.”

Findings of dead wild birds should be reported to Defra on 03459 33 55 77 and keepers should report suspicion of disease in their birds to APHA on 0300 303 8268.

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.