Restrictions to tackle Bird Flu

Restrictions brought in to tackle Bird Flu

Cheshire West and Chester Council's animal health team is advising all bird keepers in the borough of new restrictions concerning the control of avian influenza (bird flu).

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been declared across the whole of England from Saturday 25 January. This requires enhanced biosecurity in all areas but, at this stage, does not include mandatory housing.

This is in addition to the enhanced AIPZ that was declared in December 2024 across East Riding, Kingston upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and extended on 27 January to include the unitary authorities of Shropshire, York and North Yorkshire.

As well as following mandatory biosecurity measures, all bird keepers in the enhanced AIPZ must keep their birds housed to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks. This applies to pet birds, commercial and backyard flocks. If further cases are found it is possible that the prevention zone will be extended.

The decision to implement control measures was made due to the escalating number of avian influenza outbreaks nationally and continued high risk levels in wild birds. The move will require bird keepers to conduct enhanced biosecurity to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease. The risk to public health is very low.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, Councillor Christine Warner said:

"The AIPZ means all bird keepers in the borough, whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a back yard, are required by law to implement a range of biosecurity precautions.

"There are no current outbreaks within the borough, however, the current 10km surveillance zone linked to the outbreak in Shropshire is extremely close to the southernmost borders of our borough.

"All bird keepers are encouraged to maintain high standards of biosecurity as good practice for the health of their birds. Good biosecurity is an essential defence against diseases such as avian influenza and is key to limiting the spread of the disease in an outbreak."

Further information on these precautions is available on the Gov.uk website here.

Anyone who finds dead wild birds should report them to the DEFRA helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

Online updates will be available here.