November 2007: Defrahas made available general licences to address immediate issuesrelating to the movement of bird by-products and mammals in the zonesin place for Avian Influenza following the H5N1 outbreak at a Suffolk farm.
Bird by-products may now bemoved freely between zones and to the unrestricted parts of thecountry. Mammals may move direct to or from premises where poultry orother captive birds are kept in the Protection or Surveillance Zones.Movements of hatching eggs may also be permitted under specific licenceavailable from Animal Health.All movements are subject tostrict adherence to licence conditions, including biosecurity measures.
The national ban on bird gatherings and movement restrictions in thezones remain firmly in place.
Defra said: “It is essential that poultry keepers arevigilant in checking their birds and report signs of notifiable diseaseimmediately.”
It added that the decision has been taken to reclassify the cull at one of the four ‘dangerous contacts’ premises identified on Wednesday to a slaughter on suspicion of Avian Influenza.”During preparation for the cull at this premises, which is in the existing Protection Zone, avian notifiable disease could not be ruled out.Samples have been taken for laboratory testing. There is no timetablefor when these results will be received,” said Defra
“The strain ofAvian Influenza present at the infected premises near Diss is similarto that found in Germany, France and the Czech Republic during thesummer. A full epidemiological investigation is underway and allavenues into the origin of this outbreak are being investigated.”Surveillance of poultry premises in the Protection Zone is underway,surveillance of wild birds has been increased in Norfolk and Suffolkand the national targeted wild bird surveillance programme is ongoing.”
Further information 1.The Defra Helpline (08459 33 55 77) is currently open 8am – 8pm Mondayto Friday and 9am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday for calls relating to AvianInfluenza. Poultry keepers can also call the Animal Health recordedinformation line for the latest updates, on 0844 884 4600.2. 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
