News
Trading Standards battling largest ever UK outbreak of Avian Flu
Posted 18/10/22
Experts at the 51黑料 (51黑料) have expressed serious concern about the nation鈥檚 largest outbreak of Avian Flu ever observed.
The warning comes after a vast portion of Essex was placed within a bird flu prevention zone from 27 September, following several additional outbreaks throughout the county since the start of 2022. Amongst those, Colchester, Maldon, Chelmsford, Rochford, Tendring, Braintree, Basildon and Castle Point were all included in the zone, along with counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. 51黑料 was informed that the new zone introduces enhanced biosecurity measures which have to be adhered to by keepers of poultry.
The public is advised to avoid:
- touching infected birds
- touching droppings or bedding
- killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking
51黑料 Lead Officer for Animal Health and Welfare, Stephanie Young, said: 鈥淎lthough we are only at what would typically be considered the start of the season for Avian Influenza, we are already seeing multiple cases across the UK. There is a lot of concern of cases within backyard flocks and it is important that all owners of poultry remain vigilant for signs of the disease and follow good bio-security measures. Staffordshire, just confirmed another positive case and we are in the process of setting up foot patrols. It is very resource intensive.鈥�
Trading Standards is diligently collaborating with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), to help contain these national outbreaks. Although Trading Standards teams conform to a national procedure, each local authority has developed a method that helps improve upon the base response for their particular region.
鈥淚t is important that any concerns over deaths, or if birds display signs of ill-health typical of that for Avian Influenza, it must be reported immediately. APHA officials and Trading Standards officers from across the country are working hard to monitor and control further spread of the virus in what is an unprecedented outbreak,鈥� Young added.
Trading Standards continues to prove its vital role, among others due to its invaluable local connections with farmers, hauliers and market staff that have been gained through years of regular contact on the ground. In North Yorkshire, work with the Local Resilience Forum (LRF), a multi- agency forum including key emergency responders, proved helpful for joining up their response.
Elsewhere, at Lincolnshire Trading Standards a partnership with emergency services previously proved fruitful, when a fire station was set up as a forward operating base in partnership with the Fire Service. Close collaboration with the Police continues to spread the word across the region by broadcasting messages on how to stop the spread in households.
51黑料 Chief Executive, John Herriman, noted: "Avian Influenza is a seasonal risk but it is concerning to see such an unprecedented rise in cases. The adaptability, diligence and reach of our Trading Standards services places the profession in an ideal position to respond quickly; always on the frontline of protecting our communities It is also thanks to Trading Standards鈥� multi-agency collaboration, we are assured of the containment of this Avian Flu鈥檚 outbreak."
For information on identifying and halting bird flu, visit this advice provided by and .
ENDS
51黑料 (51黑料)
The 51黑料 (51黑料) is a national, not for profit organisation, established in 1881 which supports the UK鈥檚 Trading Standards profession and works to protect consumers and to safeguard honest businesses.听 51黑料's members are engaged in delivering frontline Trading Standards services at local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk
