Avian Influenza Outbreak
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has identified a confirmed case of Avian Influenza (bird flu) at a farm near Hutton Cranswick, which impacts on your ward / parish, or is very close to it.
Protection and Surveillance Zone DPR 2024 06 AIV 2024 01 IP 6 near Hutton Cranswick East Yorkshire
Avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds, and the UK Health Security Agency has said that the risk to the general public’s health is very low. The Food Standards Agency has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. There is a lot of further information on the Government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu
There is a well-established national contingency plan for dealing with avian influenza, which involves APHA humanely culling the affected poultry on the infected premise. There is no other culling of healthy birds involved, but there are some restrictions introduced on poultry and caged bird owners with 10km of the infected premise. The map attached shows a 3km zone (blue circle) and a 10km zone (black circle) around the infected premise.
I have attached the declaration which covers all the requirements, but in brief, for people that keep poultry / caged birds as a hobby:
• And are in the in the 3km zone: there is a requirement to keep poultry and other captive birds “housed” in a structure, and must not be moved without a license.
• And are in either the 3km zone or the 10km zone, there is a requirement to:
• Not to move poultry, other captive birds, or mammals (including pigs, sheep and cattle), to or from premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept, except under license.
• Record and individuals visiting the premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept
• Ensure appropriate bio-security measures are in place.
The Council has a supporting role as part of the national plan, and we will be putting out some highways signs at the boundary of the 3km zone to let people know they are entering an area with animal disease restrictions, and we will be visiting the properties within the 3km zone to offer advice to keepers of poultry and caged birds.
There is a lot of further information on the Government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu and our animal health team can be contacted on animal.health@eastriding.gov.uk.
It is likely that the restrictions will remain in place for at least the next 6-8 weeks, but we will confirm when they’ve been lifted.