Two cases have of bird flu have been identified in Ceredigion, it has been confirmed.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that Avian Influenza has been discovered in two dead birds within the boundary of RSPB Ynys-hir, a nature reserve in mid Wales, around seven miles south of Machynlleth.
Both birds affected are wild birds, and no cases in captive birds have been identified.
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No exclusion zones have been established, but staff from Ceredigion Council are contacting farms near to the nature reserve to offer advice and guidance, and they continue to liaise with officers from the APHA and other local authorities.
The news comes ten days after cases of bird flu were confirmed at a property in Wrexham. You can read more about that here.
The Ynys-hir nature reserve in Ceredigion has been temporarily closed in response to the cases, and staff are currently looking into measures to protect the public, with the hope that they can reopen the facility next week.
A spokeswoman for Ceredigion Council said: “Visitors are encouraged to stay away from the area to prevent possible further spread of the Avian Flu infection until more information is given.
“Infected wild birds could cause infection to premises where poultry, game birds, pet or other captive birds are kept. This could be through direct or indirect contact. Therefore, these cases are further evidence for the need for keepers of birds to remain vigilant to the threat of avian influenza and the need to practice enhanced biosecurity to prevent the onward transmission of avian influenza within the locality.”
Gareth Lloyd, the council’s cabinet member responsible for finance and public protection services, said: “Although the requirement for mandatory housing of captive birds has not yet been declared, it is advisable that keepers of birds within large poultry farms and those with captive birds in the vicinity of the nature reserve to consider housing their birds within enclosed accommodation.”
RSPB Ynys-hir itself said that bird flu was confirmed in birds found dead on the site thanks to the “vigilance of reserve staff and visitors”.
A spokesman for the nature reserve said: “This finding is not unexpected as the disease has already been found in wild birds across Europe, including cases in England, Scotland and Wales earlier this month.
“Following advice from Ceredigion Council, the reserve can open to visitors with biosecurity measures in place. It will take some time to sort these but we would hope the reserve is open sometime next week. Until then the reserve remains closed to the public. RSPB staff and volunteers across our entire reserves network will continue to be vigilant for dead or sick birds and will report these as required.”
The nature reserve also urged members of the public to report any dead wild bird to the Defra helpline on 03459 335577.
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