Joe Kirk – Senior Agricultural Officer (Poultry)
Poultry Unit |Directorate for Agriculture, Food & Rural Communities |P1 Spur, Saughton House |Broomhouse Drive |Edinburgh EH11 3XD |0300 2449857 |07917 052293
Avian Influenza Update – Extension to Housing Order – Please see details below
If you are not already signed up – I would encourage you to sign up to the APHA text/email alerts at http://animalhealth.system-message.co.uk/AH_subscribe_index.php
Dear Colleague
You may wish to note a Scottish Government press release notifying bird keepers that the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone requiring all poultry and captive bird keepers to apply heightened biosecurity including keep their birds indoors, if possible, or otherwise separated from wild birds, will remain in force until 00:01 on 28 February 2017.
Briefly:
An AI Prevention Zone was first declared from 6 December 2016 until 17:00 on 6 January 2017. Since then, the risk level for Avian Influenza incursions into flocks in the UK has been raised to ‘low to medium’ for poultry or captive birds, and ‘high’ for wild birds. Cases of HPAI H5N8 have also been confirmed in poultry in Lincolnshire in England and Carmarthenshire in Wales, as well as wild birds across Great Britain (including a peregrine falcon found in Dumfries and Galloway).
In light of these confirmed cases across Great Britain and the increased risk levels, Scottish Ministers have decided that a further zone should be declared lasting until 28 February 2017. Zones in effect in England and Wales have also been renewed for the same period. The ban on gatherings of poultry, game birds and waterfowl also remains in force. Further information about the current situation, including a Q&A on the Prevention Zone, is available at www.gov.scot/avianinfluenza.
Bird keepers in Scotland are reminded of the importance of excellent biosecurity and anyone who suspects an animal may be affected by a notifiable disease must report it to their local Animal Plant & Health Agency office. Contact details can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/about-us/contact/field-services/
You may wish to pass this alert on as appropriate.
Kind regards
Nadine
Nadine Arber | Policy Officer
Exotic Diseases branch | Animal Health and Welfare Division (P Spur)
Directorate for Agriculture Food and Rural Communities | Scottish Government
Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD
Tel +44(0)300 244 9795
Fax +44(0)300 244 9797