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Following confirmation of Avian Influenza H5N8 at a farm in Cheshire and Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI H5N2) at a small holding in Kent, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots and DAERA chief vet Robert Huey have urged local poultry keepers to take action.
At the farm in Kent a reported 480 birds were culled, with around 13,000 birds culled in the outbreak at the farm in Cheshire.
In a statement, Minister Poots reminded farmers that we are now entering the high risk period for the disease due to the winter wild bird migrating season, so all keepers of poultry should look to improve biosecurity to reduce the risk of transmission to their flocks.
“If Avian Influenza were to enter any flock, including backyard or hobby flocks, it would have a devastating effect on the poultry industry and would significantly impact international trade,” he warned.
Register
All bird keepers must register their flocks with DAERA, and are encouraged to subscribe to the avian flu text alert service by texting “BIRDS” to 67300. As it is a notifiable disease, if you suspect any type of bird flu you must report it immediately to DAERA on 0300 2007840.
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