Concern over extent of bird flu

There is increasing concern as to the extent bird flu has taken hold in the UK.

At the time of going to press, Christine Middlemiss, the UK chief veterinary officer, confirmed that “we are continuing to see a growing number of bird flu cases on farms and in backyard flocks across the country”. She said the number of confirmed infected sites was 40, the highest ever. The infection is mostly concentrated in wild birds, and to combat its spread, biosecurity measures are in force.

The main measure is the strict legal requirement for the keepers of kept birds to ensure that they are looked after indoors.

Bird keepers have been urged to prepare new housing measures and to consult their vet and put up extra housing where necessary.

They are urged to report suspected cases of bird flu on the various helplines set up by Defra, which can be accessed on the gov.uk website.

With regards to wild birds, the Animal and Plant Health Agency carries out constant surveillance with the help of warden patrols and public reports. Anybody with a suspicion about a dead bird should call Defra’s national dead wild bird helpline on 03459 33 55 77, and select option 7.