Bird Flu Found In Captive Birds in North Yorkshire

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The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) is reminding its members that H5N8 avian flu has been confirmed in a small backyard flock of chickens and ducks near Settle in North Yorkshire. Further details are available on the Defra website by clicking here.

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been set up around the infected premises, to limit the risk of the disease spreading. An official map showing the extent of both zones is published here. To view the map, please scroll to the foot of the document, which also sets out in detail all the measures to be taken by law in both zones.

Shooting is not restricted in either zone, and movement of shot gamebirds is permissible both within and from both the Protection and Surveillance Zones. The NGO would urge shooting interests in the immediate vicinity of the bird flu outbreak in Settle 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 that are in force in the Prevention Zones that have been declared right across the whole of England, Wales and Scotland. The measures include the need to take appropriate steps to keep captive birds separate from wild birds.

Keepers should be aware that the Prevention Zones were extended on 4 January and now run until 28 February in order to help protect poultry and captive birds from avian flu. For details click here

Northern Ireland declared a 30-day Prevention Zone on 23 December. Click here for details.

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

A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation said: “We would like our members to keep checking the NGO website for updates on avian influenza and to continue to monitor wild birds for any indications of bird flu.

“Those keepers who are making routine plans at this time of year to transport live gamebirds will be aware of their on-going responsibilities regarding scrupulous record keeping, maximum journey times and the many other regulations required by law for the movement of game. It is timely therefore to remind keepers that full attention should of course, as always, be paid to implementing all practical biosecurity measures such as cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and trailers before, during and after transit, especially between any multiple trips.”