‘Housing Order’ launched for chicken homeowners to cut back the unfold of avian flu

All chicken keepers in Shropshire no matter flock dimension should from as we speak hold their birds in enclosures following an outbreak of avian influenza in North Shropshire.

This necessary housing order which got here into drive simply after midnight is accompanied by strict biosecurity measures to guard flocks from the extremely contagious illness.

Which means chicken keepers should hold all birds indoors always. This contains anybody in Shropshire who owns any poultry, together with chickens, geese and geese with flocks smaller than 500, in addition to personal aviaries and individuals who personal birds that they hold of their gardens.

This motion follows the recent discovery of an avian flu outbreak in a large commercial poultry flock near Wem.

Shropshire is one in all three newly designated areas nationwide going through these heightened restrictions.

The Authorities says that every one chicken keepers ought to stay vigilant and observe any Safety/Surveillance Zone restrictions to forestall future outbreaks. A 3km Safety Zone and 10km surveillance zone is already in drive across the outbreak close to Wem.

Flock keepers are being requested to search for any indicators of illnesses while guaranteeing good ranges of biosecurity at their premises.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss mentioned:

“Given the continued enhance within the variety of chicken flu circumstances throughout England, we’re taking additional motion to try to stop the additional unfold of illness.

“I urge chicken keepers to verify which necessities apply to them, to proceed to train strong biosecurity measures, stay alert for any indicators of illness and report suspected illness instantly to the Animal and Plant Well being Company.”

Councillor Chris Schofield, Shropshire Council’s cupboard member for planning and regulatory providers mentioned:

“Shropshire is being added to the places the place these measures apply as a result of we’d like everybody to work collectively to assist stop the spead of avian flu. I ask anybody concerned in poultry farming in Shropshire to stick strictly to ensure their birds are housed and so they observe biosecurity measures to forestall any additional unfold.”