Council calls on bird keepers to follow rules following bird flu outbreak

Herefordshire Council is calling on bird keepers to follow the latest regulations following a bird flu outbreak at a farm.

Last Thursday, The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed there is avian influenza A(H5N1) in a small flock of chickens, ducks and geese at a farm near Ross-on-Wye.

Herefordshire Council has been liaising with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and there appears to be no wider risk, but bird keepers are being reminded that they must follow government requirements.

The council said it is currently in the process of writing to or visiting every household within a three-kilometre protection zone of the affected premises, to ensure that poultry keepers are taking the necessary precautions in line with Defra guidance.

Dr James Chipwete, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control with the UKHSA in the West Midlands, said: “The A(H5N1) strain is highly pathogenic to poultry and other birds, which is why it important that poultry owners stick to the Defra guidance. While the risk to human health is considered very low, it is possible for humans to catch the virus through close contact with an infected bird, dead or alive. Therefore, it is very important that people do not touch birds infected with avian flu, their carcasses, droppings, bedding or eggs – and infection control measures may be necessary if they do.   

“As a precaution, the farm workers who have been in contact with the infected birds have been given a course of antiviral medication and are undergoing close monitoring for 10 days from last contact with infected birds.”

Marc Willimont, Head of Public Protection at Herefordshire Council, said: “While any outbreak of avian flu is a concern, we do not expect this relatively minor incident to adversely affect others.

“I can reassure the public that we acted as soon as we were made aware of the incident by Defra and that we have followed all the government department’s guidelines to help minimise the risk of any potential spread of the virus in the surrounding area.

“Residents in Ross-on-Wye can expect to receive a letter with further details from the council within the next week. Other rural premises within the three-kilometre zone are likely to receive a visit to ensure all poultry keepers have put precautions in place and are complying with the government’s protection zone.”