Poultry keepers in Rutland and Stamford are being urged to stay alert
It's as new housing rules take effect today to stop bird flu spreading
New bird flu rules come into force across Rutland and Stamford today.
It means poultry farmers must keep their birds indoors.
Bird flu is very infectious and highly transmissible
The move follows a rise in cases in wild birds and new cases in poultry and kept birds, coupled with heightened risk levels.
Officials are warning the virus can spread quickly between flocks.
The UK’s Deputy Chief Vet, Jorge Martin-Amalgro, says it’s vital farmers stick to rigorous biosecurity - even if their birds seem healthy:
It's fundamental to monitor the health and welfare of the birds
"Farmers can do several things like having a strict control of the people who come into their premises, keeping accurate records, protecting as far as possible the contact between their poultry that they keep and those wild birds."
"Bird flu is very infectious and highly transmissible."
"It does not only affect domestic or commercial poultry, but also wild birds and therefore what we have seen is translocation of disease from wild birds into commercial or domestic poultry."
"Something which is fundamental is to monitor the health and welfare of the birds."
"If they see anything that doesn't, right, they can contact the private veterinary surgeon in any event that they suspect any of the clinical signs they are to contact and report the suspicion."
Officials say the measures will stay under review as cases continue to be monitored across the region.