A graphic depicting a rooster, a hen and a duck.

Warrington residents who keep poultry or other captive birds are being urged to take immediate action, following the confirmation of a positive case of avian influenza (bird flu).

Monday, 11 September 2023
Community |
Health

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has identified the presence of the disease in a releasing pen of approximately 750 pheasants in South Warrington.

When a new infected premises has been confirmed, APHA is required to carry out surveillance activities, to limit the spread of the disease as much as possible and minimise the amount of time premises are kept under restrictions in the local area.

APHA have now put in place a 10km surveillance zone around the infected premises.

All people who keep birds - including pet birds and commercial flocks - within the surveillance zone are being urged to contact APHA and register their birds as soon as possible.

Identifying bird keepers in this area will enable APHA to carry out a visit so essential surveillance activities can take place. This will help ensure the birds people keep are protected and normal conditions can be returned to as soon as possible.

You can find out if you fall within the 10kn surveillance zone by using the APHA Interactive Avian Influenza Map

The government has published rules and forms to register birds

Useful links

Further information

  • The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low.
  • The Food Standards Agency has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
  • The NHS has further information for people who work with poultry nhs.uk/conditions/bird-flu
  • “Poultry” means a bird reared or kept in captivity for the production of meat or eggs for consumption, or of other products, for restocking supplies of game or for the purposes of any breeding programme for the production of such categories of birds.
  • “Captive bird” means a bird kept in captivity which is not poultry and includes a pet bird and a bird kept for shows, races, exhibitions, competitions, breeding or for sale.