A confirmed case of Avian Flu has been found in a small number of birds at a private premises in Gateshead.
A three-kilometre protection zone has been implemented around the Rowland Gill area, which includes farms, allotments, smallholdings and domestic premises.
Restrictions on the keeping and movement of poultry and caged birds have been put in place to prevent the spread of the disease which is highly infectious in birds, but poses an extremely low risk to humans.
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Residents within this protection zone who have poultry or captive birds on their land or in their home are asked to register these details with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
And because a number of outbreaks have recently been identified across the UK, all bird owners are being asked to register with the APHA to ensure the safety of their flocks.
If dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey are found, they should be reported to the Defra helpline.
And the advice is not to touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you come across. If you are in contact with any animals, it's important to wash your hands with soap and water.
UK 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.
An interactive map has been set up on the government website to check whether your address is within the Gateshead protection zone.
The main symptoms of bird flu in humans include a high temperature, aching muscles, headache and a cough or shortness of breath.
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