A COUNTY Durham resident has received a letter of warning after cases of bird flu have been found in the region.
A Northern Echo reporter based in Hobson near Burnopfield, County Durham, has received a letter of warning stating an outbreak of Avian Influence (bird flu) in your area.
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The letter reads: “You have received this letter because your property is in, or very close to a declared AI protection or surveillance zone.
“To assure health status of birds within the area around confirmed infections, we need to complete a survey of susceptible birds.”
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, there is currently a disease control zone in force in Blaydon, stretching for 3km around the town.
There is also a disease control zone in force in Byker stretching 3km around the area.
Disease control zones have been confirmed to be in place in the following areas across the Northeast and North Yorkshire:
- Blaydon, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
- Byker, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
- Whitby, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
How to spot signs of bird flu:
Signs and symptoms of bird flu may begin within two to seven days of infection in humans according to Mayo Clinic
These are the symptoms to look out for:
- Cough
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
Some people could also experience neausa, vomiting or diarrhea and in a few cases, a mild eye infection is the only indication of the disease.
The risk to humans of catching bird flu is very low, however, the UK Health Security Agency said people should refrain from touching sick or dead birds.
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In January of this year, the first human case of bird flu in the country was found in the South West of England, however, the UKHSA said it was an “isolated incident.”
In a statement, it said: “Bird to human transmission of avian flu is very rare and has only occurred a small number of times in the UK previously.
“The person acquired the infection from very close, regular contact with a large number of infected birds, which they kept in and around their home over a prolonged period of time.
“All contacts of the individual, including those who visited the premises, have been traced and there is no evidence of onward spread of the infection to anyone else. The individual is currently well and self-isolating.”
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