ANIMAL health officers are carrying out visits across the Pontyberem area after a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in local poultry.
The Welsh Government has put in place a 3km Avian Influenza Protection Zone and a wider 10km Surveillance Zone around the infected premises. These controls are designed to limit any further spread of the disease.
Council officers will visit every address within the zones – including homes, farms, smallholdings and businesses – to provide information and ensure keepers understand the restrictions now in force. Any location where poultry or other captive birds are kept must follow strict movement and biosecurity requirements. A map of the zones and full details of the rules are available on the Welsh Government website.
The strain identified in Pontyberem is one adapted to birds and is considered to present very low risk to human health. Households and businesses that do not keep birds are not required to take any action.
Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, said:
“The confirmation of avian influenza in the Pontyberem area is very sad news for the keeper involved, but I want to reassure residents that the risk to people is very low.
“I would urge anyone who keeps poultry or other captive birds within the affected zones to follow the enhanced biosecurity measures. Keepers elsewhere in Wales must also comply with the all-Wales prevention zone that came into force on 13 November.”
Residents are reminded that dead wild birds – including swans, geese, ducks, gulls and birds of prey – should be reported to the Defra Helpline on 03459 33 55 77 (option 7).
