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<p>We encourage anyone feeding wild birds to do so responsibly and not feed them in
the vicinity or on the same premises as poultry or other captive birds and to be aware
of the risk of carrying contamination back to their poultry or other captive birds,
for example on their footwear.</p><p> </p><p>The feeding of wild garden birds is not
prohibited by the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) measures or other avian influenza
disease control legislation. Where an AIPZ has been declared wild gamebirds should
not be fed within 500m of a premises where more than 500 poultry or other captive
birds are kept (where this area is under the control of the keeper).</p><p><strong>
</strong></p><p>The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza
is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very
low. However, members of the public should not touch, pick up or transport dead or
sick birds and should keep away from bird droppings if possible, and wash their hands
thoroughly if they accidentally come into contact with any bird faeces, feathers or
other potentially contaminated material. The NHS website [<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bird-flu/prevention"
target="_blank">https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bird-flu/prevention</a>] has further
information.</p><p>Wild birds are susceptible to a range of different pathogens. The
British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) provides <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bto.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fu23%2Fdownloads%2Fpdfs%2Fhygiene%2520leaflet_final_2014_web_version.pdf&data=04%7C01%7CLara.Harrup%40defra.gov.uk%7Ce6a8744531eb4a0fb40708d9b9923a2e%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637744859948853461%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=4cnd5STp49JR5RgfVmeI9JJ6f41pfEr2EKKeH%2FIyVZ8%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">advice</a> about keeping bird feeders and water baths clean to prevent
transmission between wild birds, this guidance will also help minimise the risk of
transmission of avian influenza.</p>
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