A DISEASE control zone is in place in Newent, near Ledbury after bird flu was found.

But there is good news in Worcestershire after a control zone in Droitwich was lifted.

Earlier this week the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said bird flu was found at a site in the Forest of Dean, with a 10-kilometre control zone stretching into Herefordshire brought in.

DEFRA said all birds at the site in Newent, near Ledbury, would be killed due to the confirmed cases of the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

 

 

A three kilometre protection zone and 10km surveillance zone was put in place around the premises.

An update from DEFRA says the disease control zone is still in force at the site.

Meanwhile a disease control zone is no longer in force near Droitwich Spa, Wychavon.

That had originally came into force after a strain of bird flu was first diagnosed in birds at a wild bird rescue centre near Droitwich at the end of October.

A Wychbold Swan Rescue spokesman said they were "devastated" that they will have to cull their birds after the outbreak.

In November swans at the Diglis Basin in Worcester then became sick, with this same strain of avian flu confirmed.

Dead birds were collected from around the River Avon in Stratford town centre and sent to APHA’s laboratory for testing, and results showed the same strain of avian flu was present.

The H5N1 strain is highly pathogenic to other birds, but the risk to human health is said to be considered 'very low'.

Angela Cartwright, consultant in communicable disease control with the UKHSA, said: "The risk to the public from this strain of avian flu is very low, however, it is important that people do not touch any sick or dead birds.

"As a precaution, anyone who was not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment while in contact with the droppings or birds in an area where the infection has been confirmed, will require close monitoring and a course of antiviral medication for 10 days from last contact with infected birds."