In addition to the new case of H5N8 bird flu detected in a backyard flock of chickens and ducks in Wales this week, there have been a number of fresh outbreaks reported in wild birds, notably in the south-west of the country.

Disease prevention measures remain in place in the UK until 28th February, having been extended by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) this week. This means that gatherings of at-risk birds are still prohibited and bird keepers must ensure that measures are taken to prevent contact between kept birds and wild birds.

There have been a number of new cases in both wild and domestic birds across Europe in recent days; in England, mute swans in Dorset (at a swannery), a wigeon, a grey lag goose, a white fronted goose and a Canada goose in Gloucestershire, wigeons in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, pochards, a mallard, a cormorant and a black headed gull in Merseyside and a teal in Conwy, North Wales have all tested positive for the disease.

This week, authorities in Ireland announced the first case in the country - a single case in a wild widgeon in Wexford. Slovakia and Czech Republic also recorded their first cases.

APHA’s latest report on the disease, released on Friday, shows there is a HIGH risk to the UK from bird flu, but that - depending on the biosecurity measures taken - individual farms are at a LOW TO MEDIUM risk. The spread of disease in wild birds in the UK suggests that there is no location at particular risk.

Members of the public are being urged to use the Defra helpline (Tel: 03459 33 55 77) to report findings of dead wild birds. In particular, any wild ducks, wild geese, swans, gulls or birds of prey  and where more than five birds of any species are found dead in the same location.

France and Poland - both major EU poultry producing nations - have recorded cases on farms. In France, there have been 95 cases reported on farms, with 23 of France’s cases in domestic birds and all ten of Poland’s on-farm outbreaks being recorded since Christmas.

Information for poultry keepers is available here. APHA has urged poultry keepers to ensure that a high level of biosecurity is maintained on their farms, and asked them to keep abreast of recommended measures, and possible routes for contamination on their premises.