Carmarthenshire’s Animal Health Team visit premises in Pontyberem area following the identification of avian influenza

Following the identification of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in the Pontyberem area, Welsh Government has declared a 3km Avian Influenza Protection Zone and a 10km surveillance around the infected premises.

Animal Health Officers from Carmarthenshire County Council will visit all premises (businesses, homes, agricultural holdings and other addresses) within these zones which have been set up to help prevent the further spread of disease.  

Any premises with poultry or other birds present is now subject to certain conditions and movement restrictions, including enhanced biosecurity measures. More information on these measures can be found on the Welsh Government website as well as a map showing the extent of the zones.

The disease identified in Pontyberem is caused by a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza virus which is adapted for birds and presents very low risk to human health. 

Any resident or business owner within the Pontyberem area that doesn’t keep birds will not need to take any further action. 

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, 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.”

To report dead wild birds such as waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds such as gulls of birds or prey call the Defra Helpline on 03459 33 55 77 (option 7).