The Welsh government has today (Thursday, January 30, implemented a nationwide ‘avian influenza prevention zone’ (AIPZ), to combat the spread of bird flu infection in the country.
The announcement was made by deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies and follows similar decisions taken by English and Scottish governments on January 25.
While this national avian influenza prevention zone does not include mandatory housing requirements for poultry, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced housing measures for York, North Yorkshire and Shropshire.
These housing measures are in addition to those already in place in some counties in the east of England, including, East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Avian influenza
Irranca-Davies stated that despite the fact that no new bird flu cases have been confirmed in poultry or other kept birds in Wales so far this outbreak season, the escalating rate of infection evident in poultry and wild birds across Great Britain is a cause for concern.
The newly introduced prevention zone will require Welsh bird holders, irrespective of the size of the flock or how the birds are kept, to conduct enhanced biosecurity measures to mitigate against this “heightened risk of transmission”.
These include:
- Ensuring the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to wild birds, e.g., by netting ponds and surrounding areas and by removing wild bird food sources;
- Feeding and watering flocks in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds;
- Minimising movement of people in and out of bird enclosures;
- Cleaning and disinfecting footwear, using foot dips before entering poultry enclosures, and keeping areas where birds live clean and tidy;
- Reducing any existing contamination by cleansing and disinfecting concrete areas and fencing off wet or boggy areas;
- Keeping domestic ducks and geese separate from other poultry;
- Wild game birds ‘caught up’ during the open season must not be moved for a minimum of 21 days, subject to conditions within the declaration;
- Ensuring records are kept in line with the conditions within the declaration;
- Completing the mandatory biosecurity self-assessment checklist within seven days.
According to the regulations, keepers with more than 500 birds are required to comply with additional biosecurity measures, which include the restriction of access from non-essential people onto farms.
Employees on these farms will also be required to change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and site vehicles will need to be cleansed and disinfected regularly, the government stated.
It has also urged keepers to remain vigilant for signs of infection, reminding farmers that avian influenza is a notifiable disease and that any suspicion must be reported immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency for review.
Speaking after the Welsh AIPZ was announced, NFU Cymru poultry chair, Richard Williams said: “Unfortunately the UK poultry industry is all too familiar with the devastating impact that bird flu can have on our flocks and our businesses in recent years.
“Given the worsening disease picture in other parts of the UK this season, it is absolutely imperative that poultry keepers – whether that’s commercial businesses or small backyard flocks – do all they can to protect our birds from this disease.
“The announcement of an all-Wales AIPZ recognises the increased risk to Welsh flocks. Although there aren’t currently any avian influenza cases in Wales, we must not be complacent.
“I urge all poultry keepers to heed the advice and warnings being given by Welsh Government, employ enhanced biosecurity measures and remain vigilant for signs of the disease,” he concluded.
