Since November 2024, we’ve had seven outbreaks of Avian Influenza in East Riding.
Currently, all of East Riding is in a regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ). This means all bird keepers must enhance biosecurity measures and house their birds to protect them from bird flu. This applies to pet birds, commercial flocks, and backyard birds.
These measures are crucial to prevent further outbreaks. Additional measures are required within the disease control zones around the outbreaks. You can use the DEFRA Avian Influenza Interactive Map to check if a location is within a control zone.
Since October 1, 2024, everyone in Great Britain who keeps any number of poultry (whether as pets or a hobby) or Captive birds not kept fully housed in a dwelling (or another indoor structure) with no access to open air must register their details with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
This measure has allowed a revised approach to foot patrols. Instead of visiting or contacting every premises within the declared zone, the Council will use a media campaign to raise awareness of the restrictions and the need to register if any bird keepers have not already done so.
ERYC will support the national plan by placing highway signs at the 10km zone boundary to inform people they are entering an area with animal disease restrictions. Posters will be put up within the 3km zone to inform bird keepers of the requirements, and Council Animal Health Officers will have a presence in the area to monitor compliance.
Avian Influenza primarily affects birds. The UK Health Security Agency states that the risk to public health is very low. The Food Standards Agency assures that avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk. Properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat.
More information is available on the Government’s website.
The national contingency plan involves APHA humanely culling affected poultry on infected premises. No healthy birds are culled, but restrictions are placed on poultry and captive bird keepers in the control zones.
In brief, for those in the 3km protection zone:
* Keep poultry and other captive birds housed.
* Do not move poultry, other captive birds, or mammals to or from premises where birds are kept, except under licence.
* Record individuals visiting premises where birds are kept.
* Ensure appropriate biosecurity measures are in place.There is a lot of further information on the Government’s website: Bird
Flu: Avian Influenza Latest Situation in England [6].
The restrictions around outbreaks are likely to remain for at least the next 6 weeks, but the Regional Prevention Zone is likely to remain in place until the risk of new cases has reduced, which may be several months.
Further guidance is available on the ERYC website.