Cambridgeshire bird keepers urged to take further action to curb spread of bird flu

Bird keepers across Cambridgeshire will be legally required to keep their flock indoors, or separated from wild birds, from Monday (14) as part of further national measures to help keep their own birds and the commercial poultry industry safe.

The new course of action, announced by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), will apply to all bird keepers – from major poultry and egg producers to those with a handful of chickens in the garden - as a precaution against Avian Influenza (bird flu). It builds on the previous national measures introduced by the National Avian Influenza Prevention Zone introduced nationwide last month.

Councillor Steve Criswell, chairman of Cambridgeshire county council’s communities and partnership committee, said: “We are a rural county, blessed with a wide range of commercial poultry premises. Their livelihoods depend on all bird keepers – large and small - doing their bit to prevent the spread of this disease.

“We appreciate that the new measures may pose challenges for many bird keepers and so we are supporting the Government in urging those affected to start preparing now, erecting bird housing where necessary, considering any potential welfare implications and discussing any concerns with their vet.

"It's really important for us to help protect bird keepers and the poultry industry, so we are asking everyone who looks after poultry to keep a close eye on them for any signs of disease and stay on top of their cleaning and working practices.

"I would also like to stress that the risk to public health is very low, and properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are still safe to eat according to the Food Standards Agency.”

Poultry keepers should report suspicion of disease to APHA on 03000 200 301. Keepers and members of the public should report dead waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77).

For more information about bird flu, including best practice advice and details of signs and symptoms, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#biosecurity-advice .