Warrington has confirmed cases of bird flu, council says

According to the council, there have been cases confirmed in the south of the town.

Warrington residents who keep poultry or other captive birds are being urged to take immediate action, following the confirmation of a positive case of avian influenza.

A pen of around 750 pheasants in the south of Warrington has been confirmed to be the source of the positive case of avian influenza.

A 10km surveillance zone has now been established (Image: APHA)

When a new infected premises has been confirmed, the Animal and Plant Health Agency is required to carry out surveillance activities to limit the spread of the disease as much as possible.

Measures will also be in place to limit how much time an area will remain under surveillance.

APHA has now put in place a 10km surveillance zone around the infected premises in Warrington.

All people who keep birds - including pet birds and commercial flocks - within the surveillance zone are being urged to contact APHA and register their birds as soon as possible.

Identifying bird keepers in this area will enable APHA to carry out a visit so essential surveillance activities can take place.

This will help ensure the birds people keep are protected and normal conditions can be returned to as soon as possible.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low.

The Food Standards Agency has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.

Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.