WARWICKSHIRE bird keepers are being warned they must follow new rules to stop the spread of bird flu.
It comes after it was reported the bodies of two swans which had been retrieved from River Avon in Stratford had died of the condition.
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Animal Health team say new rules have been introduced across the UK to stop the disease spreading.
All bird keepers – including farmers and those who keep birds as pets – are now legally required to keep their birds indoors and follow strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.
The new rules came in to force following a number of cases of avian influenza in both wild and captive birds in the UK.
Warwickshire County Council community safety spokesman Andy Crump said: “Please help us to eradicate this disease by adopting good biosecurity and reporting suspected avian influenza in poultry or captive birds and any dead wild birds to Defra.”
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/animalhealthemergencies for more information on spotting bird flu, prevention and what to do if you suspect it.
