Bird flu site restrictions lifted

The 1km restriction zone around the farm has been lifted

Bio-security restrictions around a Conwy smallholding where a case of bird flu was found have been lifted.

Last month, a 1km restriction zone was placed around the farm, which is near Cerrigydrudion, after 15 chickens died of the mild H7N2 strain of the disease.

At its height, 252 people who may have come into contact with the virus were being monitored.

Throughout the case, public health officials stressed the disease found was not the more virulent H5N1.

The restrictions, which said birds and bird products could not be moved and bird gathering could only take place under licence, were lifted at midnight.

They were imposed after the avian illness was discovered in Rhode Island Red chickens kept at the small farm at Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr.

It was the first confirmed case of bird flu in Wales.

Tests

Tests were carried out on people who may have come into contact with the farm and eventually, 252 people were monitored.

Of those, 17 people suffering conjunctivitis or a flu-like illness were identified with the bird flu virus.

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) said that no-one had been seriously ill and the risk to the health of the general public was low.

A report into the case is to be published.