UK bans bird gatherings to curb spread of avian influenza

It is likely that the measures recently enforced in the UK will remain until the spring when the weather warms up and the birds’ movements change. Photo: Herbert Wiggerman

Poultry gatherings have been banned across England, Scotland and Wales due to the high level of bird flu cases.

This means that bird fairs, shows, sales and other gatherings cannot take place. The ban is likely to remain in place until the spring.

Over the weekend (8/9 February), 4 new cases of avian influenza were reported as far afield as Yorkshire, Cornwall and the Wirral. As of 10 February, there have been 28 cases of the virus this season.

A serious issue

UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said the ban was aimed at stopping the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza. She said that the virus was zoonotic and had the potential to infect people as well as birds and so the government was taking the issue very seriously.

Speaking on the BBC Today programme, she said: “We take a very robust approach in terms of culling the infected birds and putting restrictions on all the movements of birds round and about the infected ones. The ban will last until the risk reduces. At the moment our experts – and this is why we have put this new measure in place – say that for ducks and geese, the risk of infection is very high. For turkeys, chicken and game birds coming together as a gathering, the risk is medium – that is based on potential contact with infected wild birds.”

She noted that it is likely that these measures will remain until the spring when the weather warms up and the birds’ movements change.

Minimising contact with infected wild birds

When asked whether she felt the UK was losing the battle against avian influenza, Middlemiss said the issue was all about contact with wild birds and the level of infection pressure in them.

She said there was evidence of fewer infections than 2 or 3 years ago, but it was still prevalent at a worrying level. She stressed the need for excellent hygiene and biosecurity measures among poultry keepers: “It’s all about minimising contact with infected wild birds,” she stressed.