THERE is a warning to people who keep birds in south Shropshire to be on their guard against avian flu.

Bird Keepers are being reminded they are now legally required to keep their birds indoors under new government measures to control the spread of avian flu.

The legislation which came into force at the end of November, in a bid to minimise contact with wild birds migrating from mainland Europe, comes after a number of confirmed cases across the UK in recent weeks, including a case in Chirk near the north Shropshire border.

These housing measures mean that it is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the UK to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

Avian influenza is not air-borne, except over very short distances. It is spread by movement of infected birds or contact with respiratory secretions and in particular faeces, either directly or through contaminated objects, clothes and vehicles.

UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers and it does not affect the consumption of poultry or eggs.

Birds with the flu are likely to eat and drink less, make less noise, be less active and also produce fewer eggs.