By Luke Williamson
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has put new restrictions in place after a case of avian influenza was confirmed in Charnwood.
DEFRA placed three kilometre and ten kilometre Temporary Control Zones around the infected premises – a poultry farm near Barrow upon Soar – last Thursday(NOV25).
Movement of domestic poultry and other captive birds is not allowed and all birds kept by people in the zone must be housed somewhere that doesn’t allow wild birds to fly in and doesn’t allow the captive birds to fly out.
The Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk while the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed the risk to public health is low.
Road signs were put up around the ten kilometre zone to let drivers know about the restrictions that are in place.
Leicestershire County Council is warning people not to touch or pick up any dead or sick birds they find, and instead report it to the DEFRA helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
