A bird flu outbreak has been confirmed near Ilkeston. It has been identified among a backyard flock - and a number of chickens, geese and ducks have reportedly been affected.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed the cases of H5N1 avian influenza, Derbyshire County Council has confirmed. A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place around the infected premises and strict measures are now in force to limit the risk of the disease spreading, reports Derbyshire Live.
Road signs are being put in place to warn people when they are entering the protection zone, and trading standards officers will be out in the area over the next week knocking on doors in the 3km protection zone to identify any households keeping any type of bird to warn them of the new restrictions.
Read More: Fears ‘everything is getting worse’ after an attack in The Meadows
It comes just one month after an outbreak was confirmed at Straws Bridge Local Nature Reserve, known locally as Swan Lake, in West Hallam. A total of 13 swans and Canadian geese were found dead amid the outbreak which was confirmed in mid-March.
Councillor Carol Hart, the county council's cabinet member for health and communities, said: “Unfortunately we have had another confirmed case of avian flu in Derbyshire and our trading standards officers, along with colleagues at Nottinghamshire are working closely with the relevant Government agencies to help reduce the spread of the disease.
“It’s really important that they identify anyone who has birds and ensure they know about the restrictions and follow the rules to the letter. The risk to public health is low but people travelling into the 10km zone need to be aware of the outbreak. There will be roadside signs up in the area telling people when they are entering the zone.”
While Government guidelines in place to protect poultry and captive birds are set to be relaxed on Monday, May 2, the county's trading standards officers are reminding all bird keepers affected by the Ilkeston area outbreak in the 3km and 10km zones that it is a legal requirement to follow the strict guidelines in place in those areas until further notice.
The UK's Health Security Agency has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked eggs and poultry are safe to eat.
Full details of what to do if you find dead swans, geese or other wild birds can be found on the Government's website when you search for avian flu. Anyone suspecting any type of avian influenza in poultry or captive birds must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301
If anyone finds dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, they should report them to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and select option 7. It comes after bird flu was discovered at Vicar Water Country Park, Clipstone, and near Car Dyke in Southwell. While there was a previous outbreak at Newstead Abbey.
To read all the biggest and best stories first sign up to read our newsletters here.
