DORSET Council has reiterated the advice of Chief Veterinary Officers for poultry keepers to protect their livestock from the rising levels of bird flu.

This follows the announcement of a nationwide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) which intends to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and captive birds.

The measures were introduced at midday on Monday, October 17 following the largest outbreak of avian flu in the UK, with 190 confirmed cases since October 2021, 30 of those since the beginning of this month.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Following the announcement of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across the UK, all poultry keepers in Dorset need to keep their birds safe from avian influenza.

"Foot dips containing approved disinfectant for cleaning footwear should be placed by the entrance to the bird enclosure. Feed and water should be covered to prevent wild birds from gaining access. Ducks and geese should be kept apart from other poultry, and proactive measures (for example, bird scarers, foils, and streamers) must be taken to discourage wild birds from entering the bird enclosure.

"The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) advise not touching or picking up any dead or visibly sick birds.

"If you suspect in poultry or captive birds, or have found a dead bird of prey or owl, three or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks), or more than five dead birds of any species, please report it directly to DEFRA."

Avian influenza circulates naturally in wild birds and when they migrate to the United Kingdom from mainland Europe over the winter they can spread the disease to poultry and other captive birds.

Despite the rise in figures the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) believes that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency advises that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for consumers.

Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

The introduction of an AIPZ follows a decision to raise the risk level for avian influenza incursion in wild Birds in Great Britain from ‘medium’ to ‘high'.

For poultry and captive birds the risk level has been raised from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ at premises where biosecurity is below the required standards, and from ‘low’ to ‘medium’ where stringent biosecurity measures are applied.

The AIPZ will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of bird flu.

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu