Bird flu measures to be lifted – with poultry allowed outside again, but bird keepers urged to stay vigilant | UK News

Fowl flu safety measures shall be lifted later this month, however chicken keepers have been urged to stay vigilant in an effort to stop additional outbreaks of the illness.

The principles have been in place since 7 November final yr, making it a legal requirement to maintain the animals inside and to observe stringent biosecurity measures to assist shield flocks.

From 18 April, birdkeepers shall be allowed to maintain their flocks outdoors once more, and eggs laid by poultry saved open air might be labelled as “free-range” as soon as extra.

Nevertheless, the foundations will stay in place if these birds are saved in a delegated safety zone.

The danger stage has been set at medium for areas which have what the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) describes as “poor” biosecurity measures, with in every single place else receiving a “low” danger evaluation.

Birdkeepers will now have every week to arrange their outside enclosures, which can embrace disinfecting surfaces and fencing off ponds.

There have been greater than 330 instances of confirmed avian flu instances throughout the UK since October 2021, with the World Well being Organisation (WHO) warning that, whereas uncommon, the public should remain vigilant about avian flu reaching people.

Although, as lately as February, an 11-year-old woman in Cambodia died after contracting the disease.

And final week, scientists on the authorities’s Animal and Plant Well being Company (APHA) instructed Sky Information there are concerns over another summer of infections forward of seabirds returning to the UK for nesting season.

Dr Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s chief veterinary officer, stated: “While the lifting of the obligatory housing measures shall be welcome information to chicken keepers, scrupulous biosecurity stays probably the most crucial type of defence to assist maintain your birds protected.

“It’s due to the exhausting work of all chicken keepers and vets who’ve performed their half in maintaining flocks protected this winter that we’re able to take this motion.

“Nevertheless, the unprecedented nature of this outbreak has confirmed it is extra essential than ever for chicken keepers to stay vigilant for indicators of illness and keep stringent requirements of biosecurity.”

Those that maintain birds are being urged to register their flocks.

The UKHSA stated the menace to people stays low, as does the danger to meals security within the UK.