The Welsh government has taken action to mitigate the risk of bird flu infection by introducing an all Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ).
The Prevention Zone will come into force on Thursday (25 January). It follows England's decision to introduce an AIPZ last week.
The Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs. Lesley Griffiths, said, “Although we have had, as yet, no findings of Avian Influenza in 2018, I consider this Prevention Zone and the requirement for enhanced biosecurity to be proportionate to the risk level faced in Wales.
“It is essential we take steps to protect our poultry industry, international trade and the wider economy in Wales.”
The Chief Vet for Wales Christianne Glossop said all keepers of poultry and other captive birds will need to comply with the requirements of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone.
She said: “Keepers must remain vigilant for signs of disease and practice the very highest levels of bio-security.
“I strongly encourage all poultry keepers, even those with fewer than 50 birds, to provide their details to the poultry register.
“This will ensure they can be contacted immediately, via email or text update, in an avian disease outbreak, enabling them to protect their flock at the earliest opportunity and minimise the spread of infection.”
Risk level medium
The official risk level from avian influenza has now been increased by Government officials following the discovery of the virus in more wild birds.
Chief vet Nigel Gibbens had already imposed restrictions across the whole of England following outbreaks of avian influenza in wild birds in Dorset and Warwickshire.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has now increased the official risk level for commercial poultry from low to medium following discoveries in Hertfordshire. The risk level for wild birds is high.
The latest discovery in Hertfordshire involves the same strain of highly pathogenic H5N6 virus that was discovered in Dorset and Warwickshire. It is a strain that has been circulating in wild birds across Europe in recent months.
Nigel Gibbens ordered a prevention zone for parts of Dorset after highly pathogenic bird flu was confirmed in 17 wild birds. The number has since increased to 31.
Biosecurity
Since then, Defra says that avian influenza was found in 13 wild birds in Warwickshire. H5N6 has now been found in wild ducks, geese and gulls in Hertfordshire.
In an online update, Defra says: "The overall likelihood of a poultry incursion occurring in the wider region has increased and is highly dependent on the level of bio-security at the holding."
It says: "More birds have tested positive and the two new sites together with the species of bird involved has changed the risk level to high for further incursions in wild birds, meaning the event will occur often, or at least once in the next year.
"The exposure assessment for poultry has also increased as a result of this new finding. There is still uncertainty around the transmissibility from gulls to poultry therefore where there are no additional bio-security measures on the holding, the likelihood of a new poultry outbreak has increased to medium. Where bio-security is implemented well, the risk would be mitigated to low."
'Vigilant'
Robert Gooch, chief executive of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), has urged producers to take extra care in the face of the discoveries.
"If you look at the three outbreaks, they are across the whole of the middle of England. There is no doubt that the risk must be higher now for free range flocks and it is increasing all the time
"Producers should be even more vigilant, even more cautious, about bio-security to ensure the virus doesn't get into their flocks."
An avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) was put in place around Weymouth and Portland after the initial discovery in Dorset in mainly mute swans.
After the subsequent outbreaks, the chief vet ordered an AIPZ for the whole of England and Wales has also adopted the prevention zone.
“Following the latest finding of bird flu in wild birds in Warwickshire, we are extending our action to help prevent the virus spreading to poultry and other domestic birds," said Nigel Gibbens.
“Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, you are now legally required to meet enhanced bio-security requirements and this is in your interests to do, to protect your birds from this highly infectious virus.”
Housing birds
Despite the threat level increasing for poultry keepers and the implementation of the AIPZ, farmers will not be required to house their birds.
Last winter housing orders in the UK and other parts of the EU in response to AI outbreaks threatened the livelihoods of free range egg producers.
Under EU law at the time, free range birds could only be housed for 12 weeks before losing their free range status - leading to significant financial losses for farmers. The European Commission has now extended this derogation to 16 weeks.
Even if housing orders were now put in place, the extended derogation would last beyond the danger period for bird flu.
Last winter housing orders in the UK and other parts of the EU in response to AI outbreaks threatened the livelihoods of free range egg producers. Under EU law at the time, free range birds could only be housed for 12 weeks before losing their free range status - leading to significant financial losses for farmers.
The European Commission has now extended this derogation to 16 weeks. Even if housing orders were now put in place, the extended derogation would now last beyond the danger period.
