Animal health officers will visit all businesses, homes, agricultural holdings and other properties within the zone
Cases of avian influenza have surged in Wales (Image: Getty Images)
Restrictions have been put in place after avian influenza was found at a premises in Wales. A 3km Avian Influenza Protection Zone as well as 10km surveillance has been declared in the Pontyberem area of Carmerthenshire after the discovery of the flu last week.
Welsh Government declared the restrictions on Friday, November 14, after the highly pathogenic avian influenza was identified in poultry at a premises. The disease found is a severe form of bird flu that can cause sudden death in birds but is very low risk to human health.
Animal health officers from Carmarthenshire County Council will visit all businesses, homes, agricultural holdings and other properties within these zones which have been set up to help prevent the further spread of disease. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here
3km captive bird controlled zone near Pontyberem(Image: Welsh Government )
Carmarthenshire council’s cabinet member for climate change, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen said: “The identification of avian influenza in the Pontyberem area is very sad news for the poultry keeper involved, however I want to reassure residents that this virus presents a very low risk to human health.
“I urge the keepers of poultry or other birds in the area to follow the enhanced biosecurity measures. Anyone keeping birds outside of these zones but within Wales is still subject to Welsh Government’s all-Wales prevention zone restrictions which came into effect on 13 November.”
On November 13, the Welsh Government implemented mandatory housing measures for caged birds to prevent the spread of the flu.
It was made a requirement for keepers to ensure their poultry and captive birds are kept indoors as cases of bird flu surge across Wales.