PLEASE SEE INFORMATION BELOW RE CONTROL ZONES IN SUFFOLK.  

Avian Influenza update — Suffolk

The UK’s Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer has announced an initial 10km Temporary Control Zone around a poultry premises near Redgrave, Suffolk, following investigation into a suspected case of Avian Influenza where laboratory analysis has identified the presence of H5N8.

The affected premises is estimated to contain approximately 23,000 birds. A number have died and it has been decided to humanely cull the remaining birds.

Further investigations continue into the nature of the virus detected and to establish the possible source of the infection.

The 10km Temporary Control Zone consists of a 3km Zone A and 10km Zone B.

The controls in these zones are equivalent to those which would apply in the 3km Protection Zone and the 10km Surveillance Zone around a confirmed case.

Defra have published  full details of the controls in place. You can use their  interactive map  to check if you are affected by restrictions around the premise.

Suffolk Trading Standards are providing regular updates via their social media channels,  Twitter  and  Facebook, as well as to all their Consumer Champions via email (find out how to sign up here).

Starting from Wednesday 15^th  February, Suffolk Trading Standards will be working with their colleagues in Norfolk Trading Standards to visit all premises within the 3km zone.

Read the latest advice and information on avian flu in the UK, including actions to reduce the risk of the disease spreading, advice for anyone who keeps poultry or captive birds and details of previous cases.

If you keep poultry you are required to take action to reduce the risk of avian flu spreading.

All poultry keepers — whether commercial farmers or those with a small backyard flock — are currently required by law to house poultry or otherwise keep them separate from wild birds.

This is because a  Prevention Zone  is currently in force across the UK. This applies until  28 February 2017.

For advice and guidance on what to do if you keep poultry or to report suspicion of disease in animals, call the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301 or read our detailed  guidance on avian influenza.

Members of the public should report dead wild birds - such as swans, geese, ducks, gulls or birds of prey - to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

Defra will then collect some of these birds and test them to help us understand how the disease is distributed geographically and in different types of bird.

Public Health England advises the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency is clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

Kind regards,

Sasha Watson

Community Engagement Officer

Suffolk Trading Standards

Public Health & Protection

Suffolk County Council  
Landmark House, 4 Egerton Road, Ipswich IP1 5PF
Tel: 01473 263579 (720 3579)
Fax: 01473 263283
Email:  sasha.watson@suffolk.gov.uk  

Web site:  www.suffolk.gov.uk/tradingstandards