Winter is coming: be vigilant for avian flu
Poultry keepers all over the UK are being told to take steps now to protect their flocks from the risk of bird flu ahead of the winter high season for the disease.
Last winter the H5N8 strain of avian influenza was found in 13 kept flocks in the UK, ranging in size from as few as nine to as many as 65,000 birds.
There has been a decline in the number of new cases over the summer, but the disease is still circulating in kept poultry across Europe, with Italy the most recent country to suffer a series of outbreaks.
It has also recently been confirmed in a dead mute swan in Norfolk.
Now the Government is working with groups including the NFU, the RSPCA, the British Hen Welfare Trust and the Poultry Club of Great Britain to highlight the importance of maintaining high biosecurity even though the immediate disease risk has dropped.
In a joint call, the chief veterinary officers of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the UK have urged poultry keepers to remain vigilant for the threat of avian influenza and take action now to reduce the risk to their flocks and the wider poultry industry this winter.
The CVOs say there are a number of simple measures that poultry keepers can take to help keep flocks disease-free and reduce the risk of disease before the autumn migration of ducks and geese begins again.
All keepers, whether they run a large commercial farm or keep just a few pet chickens in their back garden, are being advised to get ahead of the game and take the following steps:
Keep the area where birds live clean and tidy, control rats and mice and regularly disinfect any hard surfaces;
Clean footwear before and after visits;
Place the birds’ food and water in fully enclosed areas that are protected from wild birds, and remove any spilled feed regularly;
Put fencing around outdoor areas where birds are allowed and limit their access to ponds or areas visited by wild waterfowl.
Poultry keepers in Great Britain can also receive warnings on any outbreaks of bird flu in the UK by signing up online to a free service which provides text or email alerts, as well as registering their own flocks online.
Protecting chickens in back gardens from the disease in just as important as on farms, as a case in a backyard flock leads to the same trade restrictions in an area as an outbreak on a commercial farm.
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, said: “While it is undoubtedly good news we haven’t confirmed a case in kept birds in the UK for two months, the disease remains a threat – particularly as we move again towards the colder months.
“For that reason, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels and I want to remind keepers of flocks large and small to do everything they can to reduce the risk to their birds.
“Simple actions you can take now, such as regularly cleaning and disinfecting the area where you keep your birds and signing up for free disease alerts, could really help to reduce the risk of your birds becoming infected this winter.”
Last winter bird flu was confirmed in wild ducks at Llanelli Wetland Centre and RSPB Conwy, and a backyard flock of chickens and ducks in Carmarthenshire had to be culled.
Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales Christianne Glossop added: “While I am sure this lack of new outbreaks will be welcomed by poultry and other captive bird keepers of both large and small flocks, I would remind everyone it is vital they continue to be vigilant for signs of disease and maintain excellent biosecurity practices.
“If you are concerned about the health of your birds, you should seek advice from your veterinary surgeon and if you suspect that your birds have AI, you should report it to your local Animal and Plant Health Agency office.”