Bird flu has been confirmed in South Cumbria.
The Animal and Health Protection Agency said avian influenza has been found at a large commercial premises near Dalton-in-Furness yesterday. November 24.
A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been declared around the premises.
All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.
Within a HPAI 3km Protection Zone you must:
- Keep poultry and other captive birds housed inside their buildings. If this is impractical or significantly detrimental to welfare, then a veterinary inspector may direct you to isolate birds without housing them.
- Ensure that all carcasses that are not seized or disposed of by a veterinary inspector are disposed of in accordance with their instructions.
- Adhere to strict biosecurity on and off the farm and follow any additional measures as directed by a veterinary inspector.
- Also follow the controls listed for the 10km surveillance zone.
Within a HPAI 10km Surveillance Zone you must:
- Not move poultry, other captive birds or mammals (including pigs, sheep and cattle) to or from premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept (exceptions apply for pet animals) unless under licence.
- Not move poultry meat, litter, eggs, other livestock or animals within or outside of the zone unless under licence. Table eggs may be sent direct to wholesale or retail premises without a licence.
- Pack any eggs going to a designated packing centre in disposable packaging. General licences are available for movement of table eggs in England, Wales and Scotland which allow reusable packaging to be used, subject to certain biosecurity measures being met.
- Record any individuals visiting the premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept. Exceptions include zoos or wildlife parks (providing the public has no access to areas where birds are kept) and on public rights of way.
- Keep a record of all poultry or poultry eggs entering or leaving premises within the zone, except where eggs are being moved direct to retail premises or onwards from such premises.
- Ensure appropriate biosecurity measures are in place for people and vehicles entering or leaving premises where poultry, other captive birds or eggs are kept – disinfectants must be from the approved list.
- Ensure anyone who moves any poultry, other captive bird, meat, feed, manure, slurry, litter or any other thing which may be contaminated cleanses and disinfects the vehicle and any equipment used to transport that thing as soon as it is unloaded.
- Not remove or spread poultry litter, manure or slurry unless under licence.
- Not permit any poultry or captive birds to be exhibited at any fair, market, show, or gathering.
- Not release game birds.
Anyone involved in the transport or marketing of poultry or poultry eggs must also make a record of those that are transported or marketed.
Poultry and eggs may be transported through disease control zones on a major highway or railway if no stop is made within the zone.
Earlier this month, a mandatory housing order for all poultry was rolled out across England.
It followed a rise in cases of bird flu in kept and wild birds. The new measures mean bird keepers across the whole of England must house all poultry and captive birds if they keep more than 50 or if they sell or give eggs away.
A GB wide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is also in place and requires all keepers whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock to undertake enhanced biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease.
Bird flu has also been detected at a premises near Silloth, in a backyard flock near Gosforth and two premises in the Penrith area last month.
