On this weeks Over the Farm Gate podcast livestock reporter, Katie Fallon talks to the UKs Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, after housing measures for bird keepers in England were lifted this week.
Following the unprecedented outbreak of avian influenza across the UK and Europe which began back in October 2021, mandatory housing measures in England have now been lifted as of Tuesday this week (April 18).
With this outbreak considerably worse than previous years in terms of both severity and longevity, the UKs Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss explained it was the over-summering of the virus which helped make this outbreak so destructive.
Speaking to Farmers Guardian for this weeks Over the Farm Gate podcast, Ms Middlemiss said this was the first time a serotype of avian influenza had stayed through the summer months and caused ongoing outbreaks in Europe.
As a result, bird keepers in England were subject to the countrys longest housing order to date.
With housing measures lifted earlier this week, Ms Middlemiss urged bird keepers to ensure scrupulous biosecurity was in place on their premises, in order to continue to protect their flocks against the virus.
As the risk of avian influenza still remains, biosecurity measures are paramount on all premises, whether that be large commercial poultry units or back yard flocks.
