British birdkeepers are being told to follow strict rules amid a rising number of bird flu cases are being reported across the UK. 

A prevention zone has been declared covering England, Scotland and Wales from midday on October 17, meaning it is a legal requirement for all birdkeepers to follow strict biosecurity measures. 

These include keeping ranging birds within fenced areas, minimising movement in and out of enclosures, and ensuring domestic ducks and geese are separate from other poultry. 

The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) said the risk to public health is very low, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advised bird flu - otherwise known as avian influenza (AI) - poses very little risk to consumers. 

Gill Walker, a volunteer rescuer for The Swan Sanctuary, found dead birds in London and suspected AI. 

She said she had come across a number of cases in Redbridge's parks before finding dead swans in a series of open spaces in Havering, including Harrow Lodge Park, Bretons Outdoor Recreation Centre and Hornchurch County Park. 

While she is unable to confirm AI herself, she and other volunteers made landowners aware and asked them to contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which would be able to collect the bodies and run tests. 

In a joint statement, the chief veterinary officers for England, Scotland and Wales said: “Birdkeepers have faced the largest ever outbreak of avian flu this year and with winter brings an even more increased risk to flocks as migratory birds return to the United Kingdom. 

“Scrupulous biosecurity and hygiene measures is the best form of defence, which is why we have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Great Britain, meaning that all birdkeepers must take action to help prevent the disease spreading to more poultry and other domestic birds.” 

In total, 190 confirmed cases across the UK have been reported since later October 2021, with more than 30 since the beginning of the month. 

Anyone who finds one or more dead birds of prey or owl; three or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl, such as swans; or five or more dead birds of any species are asked to call the DEFRA helpline on 03459 335577.