A case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) has been confirmed in Powys, the county council has said.

The case has been confirmed at a premises near Welshpool.

As a precaution, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has established 3km and 10km disease control zones around the affected premises to limit the risk of the virus spreading. Within these zones, the movement and gathering of birds are restricted, and all holdings keeping birds must be registered.

Bird owners outside the protection and surveillance zones are reminded that the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in force across Wales until further notice. All bird keepers, whether of pet birds, commercial flocks, or backyard birds, are required to maintain strict biosecurity measures and complete the mandatory self-assessment checklist.

Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: “It is vital keepers of birds remain vigilant and ensure they have the very highest levels of biosecurity in place.

“It is also important people do not touch or pick up any sick or dead birds to avoid spreading the virus.

“Public health advice remains that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.”

Responsibilities of people who keep birds:

• All keepers of kept birds should be vigilant for signs of the disease such as increased mortality, respiratory distress and drops in food or water intake, or egg production.

• Consult your veterinary surgeon in the first instance if your birds are unwell.

• If you or your vet suspect that avian influenza could be causing illness in your birds, you must, by law, report this to the Animal and Plant Health Agency. This will trigger a disease investigation by APHA vets.

You must apply strict biosecurity measures to prevent any materials, equipment, vehicles, clothing, feed or bedding that could have been contaminated from wild birds coming onto your premises.

If you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you should report them to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

For the latest updates on Avian influenza (bird flu) visit the Welsh Government’s website.