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APHA announces poultry gathering ban
New cases have been reported in East Riding of Yorkshire, Merseyside and Cornwall.
The ban affects England, Scotland and Wales from Monday 10 February.

The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) has introduced a ban on the gathering of poultry, as cases of avian influenza increase among kept birds.

From midday on Monday, 10 February, the gathering of poultry will be banned in England, Scotland and Wales. This includes ducks, geese, swans, pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl.

The ban comes as APHA continues to receive reports of avian influenza across the countries.

In the past week, a number of new cases have been reported from East Riding of Yorkshire, Merseyside and Cornwall. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone has been put in place around each premises.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was introduced across Great Britain on 25 January. Regional AIPZs with mandatory biosecurity measures are also in force in North Yorkshire, York, Shropshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, The City of Kingston upon Hull, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The ban on the gathering of poultry currently only affects England, Scotland and Wales.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has received preliminary positive results for a nature reserve outside Magherafelt in Northern Ireland. A 3km Captive Bird Temporary Control Zone has been put in place.

The nature reserve has since been closed to the public. The chief veterinary officer has placed a number of restrictions on the site including the humane culling of remaining captive birds.

Andrew Muir, DAERA minister, said: “The preliminary positive results of HPAI in captive birds is very disheartening.

“No captive bird site or poultry premises is immune from a potential incursion of this terrible disease, and it is of paramount importance that all bird keepers take appropriate action now to review and enhance their biosecurity measures to protect their birds from this highly infectious disease.”

A full selection of disease control zones can be viewed on the avian influenza interactive map. Biosecurity guidance can be found here.

Image © Shutterstock

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VMD responds to Solensia injection concerns

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 The VMD has added anaphylaxis to the SPC of Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats.

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Solensia is used to alleviate osteoarthritis pain in cats. It contains the active ingredient frunevetmab.

Anaphylaxis joins effects such as alopecia, dermatitis, pruritus on the list of adverse effects.

The VMD says that is constantly reviewing adverse event data for all medicines. 

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More bird housing measures introduced in England

The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) is to enforce mandatory housing measures in five more regions, as it tackles the spread of avian influenza in kept and wild birds across England.

From 16 February the measures will apply to Cheshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Worcestershire. The regions join eight other locations which are already following the measures.

Bird keepers in these areas must house their birds, as well as following strict biosecurity measures. Any locations within a Protection Zone outside these areas must also keep birds housed.

An Avian Influenza Protection Zone, mandating enhanced biosecurity measures, remains in place across Great Britain. On 10 February, APHA also banned the gatherings of poultry, galliforme and anseriforme birds in England, Scotland and Wales

All disease control zones can be checked on APHA's interactive map. Further guidance on additional housing measures can be found here.