As of Tuesday 4th July 2023, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) for Great Britain has been lifted.
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone for Great Britain has been in place since the 17th October 2022, and was put in place due to a raise in the risk level for some poultry premises due to the rapid increase in cases of avian influenza H5N1 over the winter period.
For all poultry, the risk of avian influenza has been reduced to low, and as such the lift has followed, however the risk has not disappeared, as a new case was declared on Friday 30th June in West Sussex, and another case was confirmed in Cumbria on the 2nd July.
Whilst the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been lifted, the Animal and Plant Health Agency reminds bird keepers that the wild bird risk remains high, and that good biosecurity standards remain critical to protecting your birds.
Poultry shows and gatherings also remain banned for the foreseeable future, as the mix of large numbers of flocks poses a high risk of infection being spread across the country.
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christine Middlemiss said of the zone being lifted that: “Now we are in the summer months, and the risk to poultry across Great Britain has reduced, it is the right time to lift the AIPZ.”
Biosecurity remains critical to preventing the spread of avian influenza
In a press release, Dr Middlemiss said “There are still localised areas of risk as we have seen recently, and therefore it’s vital that everyone keeps biosecurity and cleanliness at the forefront of their minds to keep their flocks safe.”
There is no cure for avian influenza. The only way to protect your birds is through the application of true biosecurity.
Take a look back on what happened 2001-2022 outbreak and what lessons were learnt with our in-depth report here.
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Our Biosecurity Advisory Service, backed by evidence-based research and years of on-farm experience has been designed to ensure the highest level of protection for your livestock. We believe in providing a personalised approach that caters to your specific needs.
With our one-day advisory visit, we conduct a thorough assessment to identify the most significant biosecurity risks, explaining them to you. We document the existing risks and present the most effective prevention measures, which are considered the industry’s best practices, and our expert then offers you actionable recommendations to implement.
To learn more, please get in touch with the Livetec Biosecurity Advisory Service team today by clicking here.
