CONCERNS OVER HEALTH OF BOATING LAKE WATERFOWL AS AVIAN FLU SWEEPS BRITAIN

                                                                     

Fingers crossed that these mute swans and grey lag geese do not succumb to the virus

IT'S all eyes on the health of the much-loved waterfowl at Cleethorpes Boating Lake and other watery stretches in North East Lincolnshire.

Ducks, geese and swans are thought to be particularly vulnerable to an outbreak of avian flu that is sweeping through Great Britain.

Now a UK-wide Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been declared until further notice.

Since Wednesday of last week, it became a legal requirement for all birdkeepers - from poultry farmers to large-scale budgerigar breeders - to follow strict biosecurity measures.

Keepers with more than 500 birds will need to restrict access for non-essential people on their sites.

Workers will need to change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures, and site vehicles will need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading. 

However, It is not mandatory to house birds at this stage.

Bird flu circulates naturally in wild birds, and when they migrate to the UK from mainland Europe over the winter, they can spread the disease to poultry and other captive birds.

The UK health agencies advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the UK food standards agencies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. 

Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) means bird keepers across the country must:

* Keep domestic ducks and geese separate from other poultry

* Ensure the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to wild birds, for example by netting ponds, and by removing wild bird food sources;

* Feed and water their birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds;

* Minimise movement into and out of bird enclosures;

* Cleanse and disinfect footwear and keep areas where birds live clean and tidy;

* Reduce any existing contamination by cleansing and disinfecting concrete areas, and fencing off wet or boggy areas;

Members of the public should report dead wild birds to Defra’s national dead wild bird helpline on 03459 33 55 77 (select option 7) and keepers should report suspicion of disease to Animal Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301.

                                            

Tufted duck, grey lag geese and moorhens on Cleethorpes Boating Lake earlier this week