BASC is alerting members to advice from Defra following confirmation that avian influenza has been found in a small backyard flock of chickens at a farm near Thornton, Wyre, Lancashire.
A 3 km Protection Zone and a 10 km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
The flock is estimated to contain around 30 birds. A number have died and the remaining live birds at the premises are being humanely culled. A full investigation is under way to determine the source of the infection.
Public Health England advises that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency is clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.
Defra has previously come together with countryside and shooting organisations to issue important information about bird ‘flu to everyone involved with gamebirds.