Bird flu – Latest situation: Chief Vet warns poultry keepers to take urgent action now or risk losing flocks to bird flu. The UK is facing its largest ever outbreak of bird flu with over 60 cases confirmed across the country since the start of November. The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, is urging all poultry keepers not to be complacent and to undertake the urgent biosecurity measures needed to keep their birds safe and help stop the spread of bird flu. UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low, and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers, and it does not affect the consumption of poultry or eggs. To help mitigate the spread of the disease, the government introduced new housing measures last month which means that chickens, ducks, geese or any other birds kept in commercial or domestic settings (including game birds) are now legally required to be kept indoors and strict biosecurity measures should be followed. If this is not done, the disease could kill the birds and owners could be fined. Bird keepers should report suspicion of the disease in captive birds to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301. Bird keepers should familiarise themselves with published avian influenza advice.
Announcement: https://www.gov.uk/…/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian…
There is a potential case in Doncaster: https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/…/doncaster-park….
Please ensure you are following the legal requirements to protect your animals.