Avian Influenza |
Avian influenza, or bird flu as it is commonly known, is a flu virus which affects birds and in some limited circumstances - essentially where there is close contact with birds - other animals (such as pigs) and humans. There are many strains of the virus, which vary in their ability to cause disease, though there is currently an increased spread of the H5N1 virus type in wild and domestic birds across Asia, Europe and parts of Africa. |  |
There is global concern that this current strain of the disease could mutate into a form that could become highly contagious and lead to a human pandemic. Though it is important to realise that avian influenze is NOT a human influenza pandemic itself.
Details on Pandemic flu
This page aims to offer a background to avian influenza, discuss the risks, and measures being taken in the UK in response this and finally to offer sources of advice to the public. |
What is the Risk?
Despite recent cases of avian influenza, evidence suggests that the H5N1 strain does not pass easily from birds to humans. And where this has occured it is because of close and prolonged contact with infected poultry. Furthermore there is no confirmed evidence that H5N1 has acquired the ability to pass easily from person to person.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, which has been detected in most of the recent cases of bird flu around the world, in scotland (2006) and most recently in Suffolk is the cause of increased concern by public health bodies worldwide as it has shown the ability to jump from species to species and cause severe disease and high mortality in humans. People are reminded however that this is very rare and the disease is not capable of transmitting from person to person at present, and humans are only usually affected through close contact with live infected birds.
There remains the risk however that the mutation of the H5N1 virus with the human forms of the flu virus could lead to the spread of the virus from person to person although again this risk is considered very low.
Risks of avian influenza
The food standards agency have also release advise that they do NOT consider avian flu poses any risk at present to food safety i.e. eating poultry and eggs, however the European food standards authority has issued advice to consumers to ensure that these products are cooked thoroughly.
Food safety and avian flu |
What is being done?
Animal Outbreaks
There is currently a ban on the import of birds from countries that have bird flu outbreaks, in an attempt to prevent the disease entering the UK although it is impossible to prevent the spread completely as migratory birds may be carrying the virus. The patterns of wild bird migration are however being monitored to provide early alerts.
Should the disease be detected DEFRA will activate it generic animal disease plan to co-ordinate efforts to prevent the spread of the disease and minimise its impacts.
Generic Animal Disease Plan - pdf, 617Mb |
What can I do?
People are being advised not to panic, but to be aware of the advice available, and listen to the news for regular updates.
Information and advice for the public are available here.
Animal Welfare
The public are being asked to be extra vigilant around birds and if you find one or more dead wild swans, ducks or geese (wild fowl); 3 or more dead wild birds of the same species; 5 or more of different species in the same place you should contact the DEFRA Helpline (08459 33 55 77) and choose the Avian Influenza option which will be open from 8:30am to 8:00pm. You will be asked for details of your finding and its location.
If the dead bird is a single, small garden, or wild bird then you do not need to call DEFRA, but should, leave it alone, or follow the guidelines available from the DEFRA website for disposal
Wild Bird guidelines from DEFRA.
Poultry keepers are further advised to take precautionary bio security measures and try and keep their poultry away from waterways that could be frequented by migratory birds.
Should there ever be an outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) in the county of Warwickshire, it will be important for the Trading Standards Service's Animal Health team to know the location and numbers of a range of birds. Keepers of poultry with 50 or more birds kept for commercial purposes are already required to register their flocks with DEFRA.
DEFRA Great Britain Poultry Register.
Warwickshire Standards Service has now launched their own voluntary register for keepers of fewer than 50 birds, we would like to hear from you, even if you keep only a few birds from those listed on the registration page.
Warwickshire Poultry Register'
DEFRA guidance on animal health and avian influenza |
How to keep up to date?
We will endeavour to keep you updated by this page with the latest information however for further information and resources please visit the following pages:
Department of Health
Health Protection Agency
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food Standards Agency
World Health Organisation
Food & Agriculture Organisation
UK Resilience
Preparing for Emergencies - Includes information for businesses on preparing for Pandemic Flu
Teachernet - Advice for Schools |