North Wales faces bird flu in poultry

Only a matter of days after the outbreak of avian influenza in the UK, an instance of H5N1 (Highly Pathogenic Asian Avian Influenza A) has been identified in North Wales in wild birds and poultry. The last case of avian disease in Wales was pheasants in Anglesey- an island in Wales, off the mainland’s northwest coast.

On the 1st of November, the H5N1 strain of bird flu was found at a location in Wrexham County, North Wales. Since then, the area has been enforced with Temporary Disease Control (TDC) zones to control the spread of disease. This comes after a comparable situation at a rescue centre for wild birds in Worcestershire (West Midlands of England) at the end of October.

There is currently an investigation being carried out to identify the origin of infection. It is believed that wild birds are the source since they have been found dead in the vicinity, with positive tests for H5N1. Regardless of this, public health risk is still said to be “very low,” as confirmed by the Welsh Government.

The virus has continued to spread in wild birds on a migration route to the UK, this has prompted the government to increase the official risk level for bird flu able to cause disease.

Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer in Wales, explained “Avian Influenza has been found in poultry and wild birds in the Wrexham area. This is further evidence of the need for all keepers of poultry and captive birds to ensure they have the very highest levels of biosecurity in place.”

She continued: “Temporary control zones have been imposed to help prevent further spread of the disease. Suspicion of avian influenza or any other notifiable disease must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency immediately.”