Vets call on poultry keepers to cut risk of bird flu
POULTRY keepers are being urged to remain vigilant to the threat of bird flu and take action now to reduce the risk to their flocks and the wider industry this winter.
In a joint call, Chief Vets of the UK, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland say simple measures can help to keep flocks diseasefree.
All keepers – whether they run a large commercial farm or keep just a few chickens in their back garden – can take steps to reduce the risk of disease before autumn migration of ducks and geese begins again.
They are urged to keep the area where birds live clean and tidy, control rats and mice and regularly disinfect any hard surfaces and clean footwear before and after visits.
Keepers should also place birds’ food and water in fully enclosed areas that are protected from wild birds, and remove any spilled feed regularly.
They are also urged to put fencing around outdoor areas where birds are allowed and limit their access to ponds or areas visited by wild waterfowl.
Last winter, the H5N8 strain of bird flu 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 bird flu is still circulating in poultry across Europe, with Italy the most recent country to suffer outbreaks. It has also recently been confirmed in a dead mute swan in Norfolk.
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.”