Following the statement by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of an across the country Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, Leicester City Council closed its visitor tourist attraction today (Tuesday).
By closing Pets’ Corner to the general public, the council will minimize the variety of individuals accessing the location and guarantee that clothes, shoes and equipment are completely cleaned up and decontaminated to prevent any possible contamination.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: “Now that an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has actually been stated throughout the entire nation, it’s important that individuals who keep birds at home comply with DEFRA’s regulations that will help stop the infection from spreading out among poultry and captive birds.
“Closing Pets’ Corner is a temporary measure, and we look forward to reopening our popular family attraction as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
People are recommended not to touch any ill or dead birds, or get wild bird plumes, that they may discover in Leicester’s parks and open areas. Instead, anybody who discovers dead swans, ducks, geese, or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of victim, ought to report them to the DEFRA helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, which is in force throughout the entire nation, implies that anybody keeping birds throughout Great Britain – whether they are pet birds, a business farm or simply a couple of chickens in a yard flock – need to follow stringent biosecurity procedures to restrict the spread of the illness.
People in Leicester who keep birds at home are asked to inform the city board’s trading requirements group so that updates on the bird influenza circumstance can be sent as needed. The group can be called at [email protected]
Further info and guidance from DEFRA is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu
