More cases of avian influenza have been confirmed in dead wild birds in Warwickshire this week.

The cases were confirmed around the River Avon in Stratford on Tuesday, January 3, and there is now a 3km captive bird controlled zone in place around the area.

Warwickshire County Council had already confirmed cases in Napton on the Hill at the end of November. A 3km zone is still in force there.

Residents in Kenilworth, Leek Wootton and Hatton have also received letters from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs after a case was reported in nearby Berkswell.

Kenilworth sits in a HPAI 10km Surveillance Zone around the area.

The letter said: "The avian influenza strain in this outbreak presents a low risk to human health but is highly pathogenic for birds, meaning they can catch and spread the disease easily."

The public are advised to reduce the spread of Avian Influenza by:

• keeping to the footpath, with dogs on leads;
• not picking up or touch dead or sick wild birds; and
• not touching wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings.

Residents who find dead birds are asked to report these in the following instances:

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• If they find one or more dead birds of prey (such as an owl, hawk or buzzard)
• If they find 3 or more dead birds that include at least 1 gull, swan, goose or duck; or
• If they find 5 or more dead birds of any species

Report online: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds or call the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77