Avian flu confirmed in Worcestershire

(Stock photo).

The UK’s chief veterinary officer has confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 near Droitwich Spa.

All birds on site will be humanely culled and a 3km and 10km temporary control zone has been put in place around the infected premises.

UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “We have taken swift action to limit the spread of the disease and any birds at risk of infection will now be humanely culled. […]

“As we move into the higher risk period over winter bird keepers should pay extra attention to the health of their birds. Anybody who suspects disease should report it to their vet or APHA immediately. The best way to tackle this disease is for poultry keepers to ensure that they have strong biosecurity measures in place.”

A detailed investigation is in progress to determine the most likely source of this outbreak.

Defra offers the following biosecurity advice to all bird keepers:

• Keep the area where birds live clean and tidy, control rats and mice and regularly clean and disinfect any hard surfaces
• Keep chickens and turkeys completely separate from ducks and geese
• Conduct regular maintenance checks on their sheds
• Clean moss off the roofs, empty gutters and remove vegetation between sheds where birds are kept
• Draw up contingency plans for storing bedding and dealing with pests
• Place birds’ feed and water in fully enclosed areas that are protected from wild birds, and remove any spilled feed regularly
• Put fencing around outdoor areas where birds are allowed and limit their access to ponds or areas visited by wild waterfowl
• Clean and disinfect footwear before and after entering premises where birds are kept.

Poultry keepers and members of the public should report dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and keepers should report suspicion of disease to APHA on 03000 200 301.