Bird Flu Found In A Commercial Breeding Pheasant Flock

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The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation is informing its members that Defra has confirmed H5N8 avian flu in a flock of farmed breeding pheasants at a premises near Wyre, Preston, Lancashire. A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

A Defra map marking both the zones is at the foot of the document the following link leads to. Click here to view.

Defra reports that a number of the flock have died and the remaining live birds at the infected 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. Click here to read the Defra statement.

The NGO reminds its members and others in the shooting community that government came together with countryside and shooting organisations on 13 January and issued important information about bird flu to all those specifically involved with gamebirds. For the background to the announcement and for the link leading to the advice, please click here

A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation said: “Defra is conducting an investigation to determine the source of infection. While we await its findings, the NGO would like to remind its members and all those involved with game to read the advice that specifically relates to gamebirds, which was issued on the NGO website earlier this month [to view the document click here]. It is essential that all the required biosecurity measures to help protect your housed gamebirds from bird flu are in place. Please also keep checking the NGO website and social media for updates.”

Further essential information

Shooting is not restricted where the 3km Protection and 10km Surveillance Zones – and the single restriction zone in West Wales – are in force, and the movement of shot gamebirds is permissible both within and from these zones. The NGO would urge shooting interests in the immediate vicinity of the epicentre of the bird flu outbreaks to give due consideration to their plans at this time.

Members of the NGO and others in the shooting community with captive birds are also reminded of the importance of following the enhanced biosecurity requirements in force in the GB-wide Prevention Zone. The measures include the need to take appropriate steps to keep captive birds separate from wild birds.

Keepers should be aware that the Prevention Zone was extended on 4 January and now runs until 28 February to help protect poultry and captive birds from avian flu. For details click here

Important official guidance and advice on all relevant aspects of avian influenza – from implementing biosecurity measures to spotting symptoms and how to go about reporting suspected cases – are available in a directory on the Defra website. It can be viewed by clicking here

The NGO continues to ask its members to be vigilant and to report any dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or gulls or five or more dead wild birds of other species, when encountered in the same location in unusual circumstances, to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77. Details of how to spot the symptoms of bird flu can be found here

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