The Wild Place Project has taken a series of measures to protect its site against bird flu - including disinfectant mats on the entrance and exits to walk-through bird enclosures. The Bristol Zoological Society confirmed there have been no cases of avian flu at the Wild Place Project or the Bristol Zoo, which closed earlier this month.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone was declared in the South West last month following a number of cases in poultry, wild and captive birds across Devon, Cornwall and parts of Somerset. A popular zoo in Devon had to close after having a case confirmed on site.
According to data from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, one case of bird flu has been identified in Bristol, with none detected in North Somerset or South Gloucestershire. At the end of July, signs were spotted around Blaise Castle stating that the virus had been detected in the area and people were urged to take several precautions including keeping dogs on their leads.
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And, despite no cases having been detected in any bird and animal centres in the area, measures are being taken to stop the disease from spreading. Bristol Zoological Society has now shared some of the precautions it is taking in light of the ongoing outbreak of avian influenza in the UK.
Michelle Barrows, head of veterinary services for Bristol Zoological Society, said: “While we are very aware of the confirmed cases of avian influenza, there were no cases at Bristol Zoo Gardens, before its closure on Saturday, September 3, and there have been no cases at Wild Place Project.
"There is no risk to the health of staff or visitors on site. To protect our collections of birds we are continuing to take necessary precautions as advised by APHA, which includes limiting the number of staff working with birds and placing disinfectant mats on the entrance and exits to walk-through bird enclosures.
“Additionally we have measures in place to limit wild birds from coming into contact with our zoo birds and ask our visitors to discourage wild birds by not feeding them on site, and by not leaving food behind or unattended.”
The zoo said that Avian Influenza affects poultry and other birds, adding infection in humans is rare but when it does occur, it usually presents as a mild to moderate conjunctivitis with, more rarely, mild to moderate flu-like symptoms.
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. The public are asked not to touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that they find.
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