County ban on poultry markets

Poultry markets and auctions across Staffordshire have been banned as a precaution against the spread of bird flu.Staffordshire County Council yesterday announced the step following the outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu strain on a turkey farm in Suffolk.

Other kinds of bird gatherings throughout the county may also be affected. Council animal health officers are working with the State Veterinary Service (SVS) and Defra.

Nationally, Defra has revoked the licences of all events where birds will be brought together and the county officers are working with the organisers and enforcing a ban on events taking place in the area.

The events currently affected include Penkridge Market, which holds sales of poultry every Wednesday, poultry auctions held at Leek livestock market every other Saturday and a canary show planned to take place at Talke Village Hall on Sunday February 11.

Other events will become affected if the ban continues and licensed pigeon races will be affected if it is still in place when the season starts in April.

The Stafford Bird Show - held every year at the County Showground went ahead as planned last year, despite being called off in 2005 over fears of bird flu.

This years Spring Bird Show is set to be held on March 4 and is expected to be cancelled as a result of the ban.

Councillor Terry Dix, leader of Staffordshire County Council said: "Under the circumstances these are sensible precautions and our animal health team are working with organisers and enforcing the ban."

Councillor Dix has asked people to remain calm and has stressed that bird flu has yet to be passed to humans in this country.

He said: "Avian Influenza is a disease of birds and while it can pass very rarely and with difficulty, to humans this requires extremely close contact with infected birds, particularly faeces."

Anyone who finds dead wild gulls, waders, ducks, geese or swans should contact the Defra helpline 08459 335577 and choose the Avian influenza option.

Staffordshire National Farmers' Union spokesman Andrew Richards said they supported the measures that were being taken as a "sensible precaution" because birds were often transported a long way to markets.

"Hopefully they will only be a short term measure and things will soon be back to normal.

"Those who will be worst hit are small producers. Bigger farms usually have supply contracts and do not rely on local markets," he added.