Update 21st December
All restrictions following the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 in ducks on premises in East Yorkshire on 16 November 2014 have now been lifted.
The 10km surveillance zone (SZ) was lifted at 00:01 on Sunday the 21 December 2014. The 3km protection zone (PZ) around the infected premises had earlier been lifted on 12 December 2014.
For more information please follow the link below:
www.gov.uk/avian-influenza-bird-flu
Update 24th November
There have been no further confirmed outbreaks in the UK
Update – 4.30pm 18 November – update on bird flu in East Yorkshire.
Defra’s animal health laboratory at Weybridge has just confirmed that the outbreak in East Yorkshire is the H5N8 strain. The advice from the Chief Medical Officer and Public Health England remains that the risk to public health is very low. The Food Standards Agency have said there is no food safety risk for consumers.
Update – 2.30pm 18 November
Outbreak of bird flu in East Yorkshire
BASC and other shooting organisations are liaising with Defra over the handling of the confirmed case of Avian Influenza at a single, indoor duck farm near Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The virus has been confirmed as an H5 strain of avian influenza. This strain is highly pathogenic in birds but poses very low risk to public health. Control measures already put in place by Defra are designed to ensure that human health and food safety are not compromised.
The control measures comprise a 3km radius Protection Zone, established around the confirmed case, together with a wider 10km radius Surveillance Zone. A Declaration Order mapping these areas and imposing legal requirements within them concerning bird movements, biosecurity and the recording of visitors can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/375553/ai-pz-driffield-1411016.pdf
BASC members will want to play their part in ensuring that this outbreak is controlled effectively and does not spread to cause more widespread problems. Shoots, game breeders and game dealers within the control zones must read the Order and abide by any measures contained in it that might affect their activities. The ban on releasing gamebirds is unlikely to be of concern at this time of year but biosecurity measures and the movement of birds, dead and alive, do need to comply with the Order.
If in doubt, people within the control zones should consult the Animal and Plant and Health Agency (APHA) office in Leeds.
Email: EnglandNorth@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 303 1324
Fax: 0113 261 0212
APHA Field Services
Olympia House,
Gelderd Lane,
Gelderd Road,
Leeds, LS12 6DD
Outside the control areas, shooters are asked to be vigilant in watching for and reporting to their local Animal Health Office anything untoward that they think may be indicative of the disease appearing elsewhere. A list of Animal and Plant and Health Agency (APHA) offices is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening
In particular, Defra asks members of the public to report incidents where five or more wild birds are found dead in the same location and at the same time via the Defra helpline (Tel: 03459 33 55 77).Advice from Defra on what to look for, how to report it, together with other general information about Avian Influenza and this outbreak can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/avian-influenza-bird-flu
BASC will continue to keep in close contact with Defra and other organisations to ensure that this advice is updated as necessary whilst the disease and the control measures run their course.
For further information from Defra see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-flu-outbreak-in-duck-breeding-farm-in-Yorkshire
