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Avian flu outbreaks in Cheshire and Kent

3rd Nov 2020 / By Rebecca Veale

Avian flu outbreaks have been detected on two poultry units in England.  

An outbreak of High Path Avian Flu (H5N8) has been identified at a broiler breeder unit in Cheshire. All 13,000 birds at the farm, which produces hatching eggs, will be humanely culled.

An unrelated outbreak of Low Path Avian Flu (H5N2) has been confirmed at a small commercial premises in Kent. All 480 birds on the site will be humanely culled.

Avian flu is a notifiable disease and the Government has, therefore, put a number of measures in place to control the outbreaks, including Restriction Zones.

These are different for High and Low Path Avian Flu, with 3km and 10km temporary control zones put in place around the infected site in Cheshire and a 1km Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) Restricted Zone put in place around the infected Kent farm. See the maps below.

You can check whether you are in the zone on the APHA interactive map - click on the magnifying glass and enter your address

Pig producer members are reminded that if they fall within the Restriction Zone, they may require a movement licence in order to move pigs within or out of the zone.

The requirements are as follows:

Restrictions on the movement of poultry, other captive birds and mammals onto and off premises

8) (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), no person shall move poultry, other captive birds or mammals from or to premises in the zone where poultry or other captive birds are kept, unless the movement is licensed by a veterinary inspector or by an inspector under the direction of a veterinary inspector.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to pet animals which—

(a) only have access to that part of the premises where people live;

(b) have no contact with poultry or other captive birds on the premises; and

(c) have no access to any cages or areas on the premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept.

Read the full Government restrictions here

 

Avian flu restriction

Avian flu restriction Kent