There is better news for poultry farmers in Devon as bird flu restrictions have changed.

Yesterday (October 5) Defra confirmed that the avian influenza surveillance and protection zones around four sites in mid-Devon were lifted.

They were put in place after bird flu was confirmed at three premises near Cullompton and one near Tiverton.

While the disease control retrictions have been lifted, the regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in place across Devon, along with Cornwall and parts of Somerset.

Following increasing numbers of cases of bird flu in poultry and wild and captive birds in the area, the AIPZ was declared on August 31. It means there is a legal requirement for all bird keepers to use enhanced biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks.

On September 27, an AIPZ was put in place across Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex.

Nationwide, Defra considers the risk to poultry with stringent biosecurity measures in place to be low.

However, the risk to poultry kept with suboptimal biosecurity measures has been increased to medium after September saw an increase in cases and the fact that the cases were clustered together geographically.

The risk of bird flu in wild birds is classed as medium.

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The advice from Defra to all bird keepers in the new AIPZ means they must:

• cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing

• reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and use effective vermin control

• thoroughly cleanse and disinfect housing on a continuous basis

• keep fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and poultry housing entry and exit points

• minimise direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds

• prevent access by poultry to ponds and watercourses and ensure that birds are kept in fenced or enclosed areas

Keepers with more than 500 birds need to restrict access for non-essential people on their sites, workers need to change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and site vehicles need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading.