STAY vigilant – that’s the message amid a bird flu outbreak near Weymouth.

It comes after 17 wild birds found dead in the Fleet near Abbotsbury Swannery tested positive for avian flu.

It has led to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) setting up an avian influenza prevention zone.

The zone – which applies to everyone who keeps poultry or captive birds, even if they are kept as pets in the back garden – covers Weymouth and Portland and its outskirts.

People with birds in this zone must follow strict biosecurity measures to prevent their birds becoming infected.

The wild birds which died in the Fleet have the H5N6 strain of bird flu – the first confirmed finding of the virus in the UK this winter. The disease has affected wild birds across Europe in recent months.

Speaking yesterday, a Defra spokesman said: “We may see further cases but there’s nothing as yet and we urge people to remain vigilant and report anything.

“The risk level remains at medium to wild birds and low to kept birds.”

The spokesman added: “At this time last year we had a number of cases around the country. This time round it’s looking less dramatic at the present time.

“The virus will stay around until it gets warmer so the risk remains for a few months yet. We continue to monitor the situation.”

A spokesman for the Ilchester Estates, landowner of the Fleet Reserve – which includes Abbotsbury Swannery – said: “The wild birds which were found dead have tested positive for the H5N6 strain of avian flu.

“We have been assured by the relevant authorities that this strain of avian flu represents a very low threat to humans, and our staff are continuing their winter duties and monitoring the wildlife on the Fleet.

“We are working with Public Health England and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to deal with this situation.”

The outbreak has not affected the RSPB reserves in Weymouth which remain open to the public.

A RSPB spokesman said: “We remain vigilant and will pass any dead birds to Defra if we come across any.”

Members of the public are encouraged to report dead waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks), or other dead wild birds such as gulls or birds of prey, to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

Keepers should report suspicions of disease to APHA on 03000 200 301.