“The key principles of infectious disease are to keep it out, find it fast if an outbreak was to occur, stop it spreading and to eradicate it. In the case of Avian Influenza, prevention is always the first priority,” Professor Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales told those present.

Professor Glossop continued: “It is however important to know what to do if you suspect signs of the disease, and to understand the restrictions that will be imposed on the suspect premises and the surrounding area. Our firm message is that prevention is always better than cure.”

Prof Glossop said: “I really applaud the poultry sector in Wales, which has led in terms of its awareness of biosecurity and animal health and welfare initiatives. By working in partnership with industry, APHA and Government, we work together to minimise the impact on your farming business and to minimise business disruption if an outbreak were to occur.

“We are constantly carrying out contingency planning and simulated exercises to ensure we have sufficient resource to contend with a disease outbreak in Wales.”

Gary Ford, NFU Chief Poultry Adviser said, “The threat of AI is very real. It is vital that as producers, you maintain good biosecurity measures and continuously challenge yourself to improve further.

"It is good practice to start thinking about the impact an outbreak could have on your business and try to minimise as many risk factors as far as possible. The financial implications are significant for producers having to contend with an AI outbreak, so it is all about planning ahead and thinking about how your business would cope.”