An area of East Lancashire has been declared a 'temporary control zone' after an outbreak of bird flu was detected.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) declared Clitheroe and all areas within a 3km radius of the town to be under strict control measures following the discovery of a 'highly pathogenic strain (HPAI H5N1) of avian influenza'.
The control zone was put in place at 10am on November 26 and will apply until further notice.
The purpose of the measures is to 'reduce the risk of the transmission of avian influenza', and the Secretary of State has ordered the occupier of any premises within the control zone, where poultry or other captive birds are kept, to make records of anyone visiting the premises, as well as record details of all poultry entering or leaving those premises.
Records of the transportation of eggs and poultry must also be made, and occupiers of any premises where poultry is kept must make sure the birds are either housed or kept in isolation.
The declaration also sets out measures for the movement of meat, day-old chicks, carcasses and birds ready to lay eggs, and has ordered strict cleansing and disinfection of vehicles to be carried out.
Last week, Lancashire County Council reassured the public that the risk to public health was very low, with Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for the council, saying there was 'no need to be alarmed by the developments'.
Dr Karunanithi did however advise people not to pick up sick or dead birds as this could spread the virus.
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The Government's website states: "All bird keepers (whether you have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) must keep a close watch on them for signs of disease and maintain good biosecurity at all times.
"If you have any concerns about the health of your birds, seek prompt advice from your vet.
"You should register your poultry, even if only kept as pets, so we can contact you during an outbreak.
"This is a legal requirement if you have 50 or more birds.
"Poultry includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants."
If anyone does find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, they should report them to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77).
More information about the measures and how to reduce the risk of transmission can be found here.
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