On 5 June, Defra confirmed that the Avian Influenza present in laying hens on a premises near Banbury in Oxfordshire is the highly pathogenic H7N7 strain. Investigations are ongoing. Protection and Surveillance Zones are in place and bird gatherings and movement restrictions apply in the Zones.

Within the 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone there are measures/restrictions appropriate to a highly pathogenic strain.

These restrictions include the housing or otherwise isolation from contact with wild birds in the Protection zone.

All bird gatherings and the release of game birds in the Zones are currently banned.

DEFRA have now issued a number of licences to permit movement of eggs and other livestock please see DEFRA website for latest information

Defra is urgently considering whether any wider measures may be needed.

Please see the Defra website for detailed information on the restrictions.

Declarations
We are legally required to publish the declaratory orders issued by DEFRA. Please click here to view the Order relating to Temporary Control Zone

For the latest position please refer to DEFRA website.

What is the position in Cambridgeshire?
Cambridgeshire Trading Standards and Emergency Management Team are closely monitoring the outbreak of Avian Flu in Oxfordshire. A contingency plan is in place to deal with any outbreak reported within Cambridgeshire.

To the best of our current knowledge, there are no connections between the infected premises in Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire poultry keepers and there have been no reported cases of Avian Flu in Cambridgeshire.

What should Poultry keepers in Cambridgeshire do?

• Follow DEFRA advice on Biosecurity.
• Examine birds twice a day for signs of disease.
• Report to Animal Health (01284 778150) immediatlely if any birds are showing symptoms of Avian Influenza.

Biosecurity and advice to Poultry Keepers

• All bird keepers, throughout the UK, should continue their efforts to maintain high levels of biosecurity (please see the Defra website for further biosecurity advice), and ensure they have plans in place to bring their birds indoors should it become necessary.
• Defra has issued extensive guidance to bird keepers on biosecurity measures to protect their birds from avian influenza, which is available on the Defra website. It is crucial that keepers follow these measures.
• Poultry owners should plan how they will manage any free range birds if there is a need to isolate them from wild birds. Advice is to keep freerange birds away from wild birds by feeding and watering indoors where possible.
• Bird feed and any standing water should be kept free from contamination by wild birds and other animals.
• Poultry owners should make sure that hands, clothes and footwear are clean before and after contact with birds. Owners need to be vigilant and monitor their birds frequently.

What do I do if I find a dead wild bird in Cambridgeshire?
* If you see more than 10 dead birds of the same species in the same location in Cambridgeshire, especially if they are waterfowl (eg, ducks, geese and swans), you should contact the dedicated DEFRA helpline on 08459 33 55 77, or VLA Bury St Edmunds on 01284 724499.

Their postal address is Rougham Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2RX

* If you find any single dead birds, including garden birds, then you do not need to call the DEFRA helpline. You should:

• leave it alone or
• follow the guidelines below for disposal

Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people and some simple hygiene precautions should minimise the risk of infection. It is hard for people to catch Avian Influenza from birds and the following simple steps are effective in preventing avian influenza and other diseases.

If you have to move a dead bird:-

1. Avoid touching the bird with your bare hands.

2. If possible, wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling.

3. Place the dead bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak proof. Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag.

4. Tie the bag and place it in a second plastic bag.

5. Remove gloves by turning them inside out and then place them in the second plastic bag. Tie the bag and dispose of it in the normal household refuse bin.

6. Hands should then be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

7. If disposable gloves are not available, a plastic bag can be used as a make-shift glove. When the dead bird has been picked up, the bag can be turned back on itself and tied. It should then be placed in a second plastic bag, tied and disposed of in the normal household waste.

8. Alternatively, the dead bird can be buried, but not in a plastic bag.

9. Any clothing that has been in contact with the dead bird should be washed using ordinary washing detergent at the temperature normally used for washing the clothing.

10. Any contaminated indoor surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with normal household cleaner.