Fresh bird flu warning after dead wild duck in Wales found to have disease

Poultry keepers are being urged to remain vigilant over bird flu after a dead wild duck in Wales was found to have a dangerous strain of the disease.

Fresh bird flu warning after dead wild duck in Wales found to have disease

Poultry keepers are being urged to remain vigilant over bird flu after a dead wild duck in Wales was found to have a dangerous strain of the disease.

The wigeon-type duck, found in Carmarthenshire, had the same highly-pathogenic H5N8 strain of avian flu that was found in a turkey farm in Lincolnshire, England, last week and has been circulating in Europe.

A temporary ban on events involving gatherings of poultry including chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese such as auctions and livestock fairs has been imposed across England, Scotland and Wales to prevent spread of the disease.

A prevention zone is also in place, which requires keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep them inside or take appropriate steps to keep them separate, and protect them, from wild birds.

Public Health England said the risk to public health from the virus is very low.

UK chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said: "This is the same strain we have seen in Lincolnshire and across Europe, and this finding is not unexpected.

"As this is a wild bird, it highlights the importance for poultry keepers to follow our clear advice on biosecurity and to comply fully with the prevention zone and temporary gatherings ban, announced earlier this month.

"It is important to reiterate Public Health England's advice that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency is clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

"We are working with ornithological groups to further strengthen surveillance and will continue to consider any other proportionate measures available to us to limit the risk of spread to poultry."

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Joe Biden
Barack Obama Former presidents help Joe Biden raise £20 million for campaign
Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge
Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited