NEWS RELEASE
Date: 12 November 2007
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960
Avian Influenza Outbreak: additional restrictions
Further restrictions are being put in place in a wider area surrounding the infected premises near Diss as a precautionary measure.
In consultation with ornithologists and other experts, a wider Restricted Zone has been established in addition to the controls put in place earlier today; i.e. the 3 km Protection Zone and 10 km Surveillance Zone around the Infected Premises. The new Restricted Zone covers much of Norfolk and the whole of Suffolk.
This is still an early stage in the outbreak. The new Restricted Zone requires the isolation of poultry from wild birds. Movements within this zone can take place, but movements are not permitted out of the new zone at present. We expect to make available general licences for low risk movements out of the zone shortly.
No movements of poultry are permitted at present in the 3km and 10km zones around the Infected Premises.
These measures are a precaution while the results of further laboratory tests and investigations into the outbreak are awaited.
In addition, the national general licence permitting bird gatherings in England has been revoked, and bird shows and pigeon racing will not be permitted for the time being.
As further information becomes available, and in consultation with ornithological and other experts, the restrictions in place may be adjusted.
Notes to editors
1. Avian Influenza is a disease of birds and whilst it can pass very rarely and with difficulty to humans, this requires extremely close contact with infected birds, particularly faeces. As a precautionary measure those who might have been exposed would be offered the appropriate treatment and protection in line with established protocols. Advice from the Food Standards Agency remains that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
2. Movements from the new Zone can only take place under licence. These will be made available on the Defra website in due course.
3. All avian influenzas (H1 to H16) can be low pathogenic but only H5 and H7 are known to become highly pathogenic.
4. The details on the measures that apply in the current Zones can be found on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/latest-situation/index.htm
5. For further information, please visit the avian influenza pages on the Defra website: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm
End
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Page published: 12 November 2007 21:45