News

As children go back to school, First Minister Mark Drakeford and leader of Plaid Cymru Adam Price have welcomed the start of the expansion of free school meals to primary school children in Wales.

The Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr Gavin Watkins, has confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 at a premises near Arthog in Gwynedd.

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been declared around the infected premises, to limit the risk of disease spread.

Within these zones, bird movements and gatherings are restricted and all holdings that keep birds must be declared. The measures are stricter in the 3km Protection Zone. Full information available here.

The UK health agencies advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the UK food standards agencies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.

The Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr Gavin Watkins, said:

“This sixth case of avian influenza in Wales in the last 12 months is cause for concern and evidence of the continuing risk that is out there to our birds.

“There has been an unprecedented incursion of avian influenza into Great Britain and Europe in 2022 and keepers of birds must be vigilant and ensure they have the very highest levels of biosecurity in place. There is always more that can be done to protect your birds.

“As we move into the Autumn and Winter, I urge you all to review the measures you have in place and identify areas of improvement. Think about risks from direct contact with wild birds, especially waterfowl, and also the things that could be contaminated by bird droppings – clothing and footwear, equipment, vehicles, feed and bedding. Make improvements where you can to prevent further spread of this devastating bird disease.

“Good biosecurity is always key in protecting animals from disease.”

People should report dead birds and suspicion of avian influenza to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

These may be collected for examination and avian influenza surveillance, depending on the species and location. Further information on how to report and dispose dead wild birds can be found at: https://gov.wales/report-and-dispose-dead-birds

It is important not to pick up or touch any sick or dead bird.

An interactive map of avian influenza disease control zones currently in place across GB can be found here.

Minister for Climate Change Julie James has today announced £32m for farmers and landowners to help Wales plant 86 million trees by the end of the decade to combat the climate emergency.

The roll-out of the autumn Covid-19 booster has started today (September 1^st) in Wales with care home residents and staff across Wales the first to receive the vaccine.

The Welsh Government, in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council, is supporting the construction of new high-quality office space in Cross Hands, which will help create new jobs in the local area, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething announced today.

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething has visited ABER Instruments in Aberystwyth, an employee-owned company that’s going from strength to strength thanks to support from the Welsh Government.

With Ofgem’s announcement to lift the energy price cap, Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt has hit out at the inaction of the UK Government and their failure to support the most vulnerable with the cost-of-living crisis.

The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, has congratulated young people across Wales as they receive their GCSE, Welsh Baccalaureate and vocational qualification results.

The first ever festival for young carers in Wales is taking place this week [23-25 August].