Bird flu control zone in force in Ledbury

Disease control zones, which cover parts of Malvern, have been established following the discovery.

Defra’s website says highly pathogenic avian influenza, another name for bird flu, was discovered at a premises near Ledbury on February 25.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s interactive disease map shows the control zones are centred to the east of Ledbury, suggesting the case was discovered in the Eastnor area.

Inside that 3km protection zone, which covers Eastnor, Hollybush, Whiteleaved Oak, Wayend Street and parts of Ledbury, anyone with poultry or other captive birds must keep records of their visitors and records of any poultry or egg transportations.

Vehicles entering or leaving premises in the zone should also be cleansed and disinfected.

The wider surveillance zone, which has a 10km radius, covers the whole of Ledbury and stretches almost to Newent in the south, as well as covering half of Malvern in the north.

Control zones are in force in Ledbury, Ross and Gloucestershire

It overlaps two other surveillance zones, one centred on Ross-on-Wye and the other just north of Gloucester.

Ledbury Avian Rescue Service said it will not be taking in any sick birds unless they are obviously suffering from an injury and not illness.

In a Facebook post, it said most birds found grounded or in distress do not have avian flu, but that domestic birds also need to be protected.

Ledbury Park Vet Centre said it had erected a temporary fence to try to keep the wild ducks on its pond from flying away, but asked visitors to stay away from them and to let staff know if they spot any signs of illness in the ducks.

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

According to the Food Standards Agency, there is also a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. It says properly cooked poultry products including eggs are safe to eat.