Local bird flu measures remain in place

It is now nearly four weeks since the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) reported that a case of avian influenza (H5N1) has been confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Bromborough.

APHA declared a 3km protection zone - and a 10km surveillance zone - around the affected premises and these will remain in place until the declaration is withdrawn or updated. 

Details of the implications of those zones plus a map of the areas affected can be found at AI - Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone - declaration. Control measures affect those individuals and businesses who keep poultry and captive birds within these zones. They are required to take the actions as described in the above declaration. 

The council and other partners locally continue to support the relevant government agencies with their response to this case.

This has included the placement of signage on roads within the protection zone. Residents should be assured that this is a requirement under the control measures and does not indicate any further cases or concerns.

One update since the confirmation of the local case is that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has now mandated housing for all poultry and captive birds in Merseyside due to avian influenza. This is part of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) that covers several counties in England - Avian Influenza Housing Measures Expanded - GOV.UK 

Otherwise, members of the public remain generally unaffected. 

However, the DEFRA website has advice, information and links to reporting any issues on their website - Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England - GOV.UK

This page includes information on how to:-

• spot and report bird flu in poultry and other captive birds
• report dead wild birds
• prevent bird flu and stop it spreading
• follow the rules in disease zones
• check if you need a movement licence and how to apply
• house your birds safely
• follow the rules if you keep racing pigeons, birds of prey and other captive birds
• hold a bird gathering

Find out when game birds are kept or wild and the rules you need to follow if you keep, release or catch them up.

You can read guidance about:

• how to keep other pets safe from bird flu, such as cats and dogs
• how bird flu spreads in wild birds and wild mammals, and how the government monitors it
• avian influenza (bird flu) vaccination

For the latest information and advice in relation to the local case, please visit Animal health disease | wirral.gov.uk