Latest north Northamptonshire Avian Flu outbreaks officially linked - security guards patrol sites

Villagers at the epicentre of four Northamptonshire deadly Avian Influenza (bird flu) outbreaks have been contacted urgently to identify residents with captive poultry, back yard flocks and unregistered pigs.

Since November 7, there have been four outbreaks, the latest three in turkey rearing units across the Hemington area have been officially linked.

Trading Standards officers have been knocking on doors in villages near Oundle and farms in the four separate three kilometre overlapping Avian Influenza Protection Zones.

Since November 7, there have been four outbreaks, the latest three in turkey rearing units across the Hemington area have been officially linked.

One Hemington resident said: “Trading Standards came round and knocked on all the doors. They wanted to know if we had any captives birds.

"Obviously you have to feel sympathetic towards to people who are losing their business. It’s a natural consequence of intensive farming methods. I’m not surprised.”

Four confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) bird flu have resulted in humane culling of flocks on four separate poultry farm premises.

Dotted around the area close to the Northants-Cambridgeshire border, are dozens of farms and smallholdings with many poultry producers.

Guarding farm entrances to affected farms are teams of security guards giving out Defra’s helpline number.

Vehicles have been stopped entering the sites as disinfection of the large rearing sheds and equipment takes place.

All of the farm premises are now under restriction and are required to comply with measures contained within The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006.

One free range egg outlet, near to a devastated turkey farm, has been keeping a record of passing customers saying “our hens are still okay and we have taken all safety precautions to try and keep them that way”.

Another egg farmer said: “It’s all very scary.”

North Northants councillors have been told that foot patrols in the latest zones will be completed as soon as possible in the next few days.

NNC Councillor Helen Harrison (Cons, Oundle) said: “I have been very assured that officers are on top of this outbreak. They have been really quickly checking the 3km, knocking on doors. It’s a shame there have been outbreaks.”

Anyone living within one of the three kilometre zones keeping poultry or pigs will be required to fill in a form and given information and guidance regarding current restrictions.

Advice from the Animal and Plant Health Agency to residents via councils has told residents to keep to footpaths, keep dogs on leads and to not touch wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with wild bird poo. Anyone keeping poultry or other birds has been told to wash hands and clean and disinfect footwear before tending to them.

Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease and anyone who suspects that kept birds may have symptoms is legally required to notify APHA as soon as possible.

Bir flu in wild birds is not a notifiable disease. It remains the duty of landowners to address wild-bird carcases on private land.

Humans and other animals can be infected with HPAI through close contact with infected birds although this is very rare and the risk to human health is normally negligible.