Defra has announced that the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone for poultry and captive birds, introduced to help stop the spread of avian influenza, will be lifted from noon Tuesday 16^th August.

The UK has faced its largest ever outbreak of bird flu with over 130 cases confirmed across the country since late October. The risk of avian influenza has now reduced to low for all poultry, but the Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss has urged keepers to still follow enhanced measures at all times to prevent the risk of future outbreaks.

 

"Now we are in the summer months and experiencing higher temperatures, the risk to poultry has now been reduced across Great Britain and so the time is right to lift the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone", the Chief Veterinary Officer said.

 

"This would not have been possible without the hard work of all bird keepers, who have upheld high biosecurity standards for many months. However, there are still localised areas of risk as we have seen recently, and therefore it’s vital that everyone keeps biosecurity and cleanliness at the forefront of their minds to keep their flocks safe."