The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) for England has required all keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep their birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds, for 30 days.
The move is an attempt to avert any outbreak of Avian Influenza (H5N8), which has been confirmed in poultry and wild birds in several countries across Europe. No cases of H5N8 have been found in the UK, but the precautionary measure was judged to be necessary to help prevent potential infection from wild birds.
Even when birds are housed, a risk of infection remains, so poultry keepers are also urged to implement good biosecurity - for example disinfecting clothing and equipment, reducing poultry movement and minimising contact between poultry and wild birds. The risk to humans from poultry products is deemed to be low.
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