Half a million birds have been culled to stop the spread of avian flu, with UK chief vet ‘very concerned’ about scale of winter 2021 outbreak
By Henry Sandercock
Thursday, 9th December 2021, 2:25 pm
Half a million birds have had to be culled to prevent the spread of bird flu (image: Shutterstock)
Around half a million birds have had to be culled as the UK battles what has been called the “largest ever” outbreak of bird flu.
Dozens of highly pathogenic avian flu cases have been recorded across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland despite the introduction of UK-wide prevention measures in November.
It has ripped through poultry farms, wild bird populations of geese, ducks and swans, as well as a number of birds of prey.
While bird flu’s risk to humans remains low, there have been warnings the virus could jump across if people come into close contact with infected birds.
Concern over case numbers
The UK’s chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said there are 40 infected poultry farm premises in the UK - 33 in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland and two in Northern Ireland.
These cases have been brought into the country by migratory birds which are flying south for the winter months from places like Russia and Eastern Europe.
Bird flu outbreaks in the UK are not uncommon and tend to occur between autumn and spring, although the fact that they are occurring so early on in the migratory season has taken experts by surprise.
Environment Secretary George Eustice described the 2021 bird flu outbreak as the “largest ever” in the UK (image: Getty Images)
Dr Middlemiss told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there was a “phenomenal level” of bird flu and that it had “huge human, animal and trade implications”.
She said she was “very concerned” about bird flu, and that having 40 infected premises is “a really high number for the time of year”.
The vet said around 500,000 birds have had to be culled.
“I know that sounds a huge number, and of course for those keepers affected it’s really devastating.
“But in terms of food supply impact it’s actually relatively a very small number in terms of egg supply, meat, chicken and so on.”
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) figures, more than 1.1 billion chickens were killed for their meat in the UK in 2020.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Each year the UK faces a seasonal risk in incursion of avian influenza associated with migratory wild birds.
“While we have that each year, I have to say this year we are now seeing the largest-ever outbreak in the UK.”
‘Bird lockdown’ needed until spring
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, which requires farmers and birdkeepers to follow strict biosecurity standards, was declared across the UK on 3 November.
This then became a nationwide housing order on 29 November - a measure that is essentially a lockdown for poultry and pets as they are stopped from going outside.
It means that when you pick up British free range eggs or chicken in the supermarket, the animal might not actually have been reared that way.
However, this shouldn’t apply to turkey products as most turkeys were killed and processed before the housing order was introduced.
Dr Middlemiss told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there was a “phenomenal level” of bird flu and that it had “huge human, animal and trade implications”.
She said she was “very concerned” about bird flu, and that having 40 infected premises is “a really high number for the time of year”.
The vet said around 500,000 birds have had to be culled.
“I know that sounds a huge number, and of course for those keepers affected it’s really devastating.
“But in terms of food supply impact it’s actually relatively a very small number in terms of egg supply, meat, chicken and so on.”
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) figures, more than 1.1 billion chickens were killed for their meat in the UK in 2020.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Each year the UK faces a seasonal risk in incursion of avian influenza associated with migratory wild birds.
“While we have that each year, I have to say this year we are now seeing the largest-ever outbreak in the UK.”
‘Bird lockdown’ needed until spring
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, which requires farmers and birdkeepers to follow strict biosecurity standards, was declared across the UK on 3 November.
This then became a nationwide housing order on 29 November - a measure that is essentially a lockdown for poultry and pets as they are stopped from going outside.
It means that when you pick up British free range eggs or chicken in the supermarket, the animal might not actually have been reared that way.
However, this shouldn’t apply to turkey products as most turkeys were killed and processed before the housing order was introduced.
Dr Middlemiss said “we are going to need to keep up these levels of heightened biosecurity” until the spring.
Defra has said the new housing measures will be kept under regular review.
Advice for people with chickens or bird feeders
People who keep chickens and want to feed wild birds need to make sure everything is kept “scrupulously clean” and “absolutely separate” to avoid infecting their own flocks, Dr Middlemiss advised.
The risk to human health from bird flu remains very low, according to public health advice, and there is a low food safety risk.
An RSPB spokesperson said: “Everyone should take care to maintain good hygiene when feeding garden birds, regularly cleaning feeders outside with mild disinfectant, removing old bird food, spacing out feeders as much as possible, and washing your hands.”
INDIA
Bird Flu in Kerala: 12,000 ducks were culled in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, restrictions imposed in affected areas
By: FE Online |
December 11, 2021 2:38 PM
Use and sale of eggs, meat and manure of ducks, chickens, quails and domestic birds in the affected area has also been prohibited in the affected area.
Last year too, the district reported the influenza outbreak but was contained for being localized in nature. (PTI Image)
A total of 12,000 ducks were culled in ward number 10 of the Thakazhi gram panchayat in Kerala’s Alappuzha district after the state reported bird flu cases on Thursday. The culled birds were buried safely within a radius of one kilometre in the 10th ward of Thakazhi panchayat. The animal rearers will be compensated according to the government norms, animal husbandry minister J Cinchu Rani in the state capital said.
The ward number 10 of the Thakazhi gram panchayat and the area has been declared as a containment zone, strict restrictions on movement on people and vehicles has been imposed. Use and sale of eggs, meat and manure of ducks, chickens, quails and domestic birds in the affected area has also been prohibited in the affected area.
Alapuzha District Collector chaired an emergency meeting on Friday and decided to step up its measures to prevent the bird flu from spreading to other areas like Champakulam, Nedumudi, Muttar, Viyapuram, Karuvatta, Thrikkunnapuzha, Thakazhi, Purakkad, Ambalapuzha South, Ambalapuzha North, Edathva panchayats and Harippad Municipality areas where restrictions are applicable.
While the Rapid Response Teams will be deployed in the affected areas and distribute preventive medicines to the people, the Department of Animal Welfare will ensure the service of Rapid Response Teams and bury the birds.
The Assistant Forest Conservator on the other hand will monitor and examine whether the migrant birds in the affected areas were infected with the disease. The animal husbandry department has been asked to submit daily reports on bird flu prevention activities.
The state animal husbandry department confirmed bird flu (H5N1) influenza) on Thursday after reports of some samples sent to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease in Bhopal turned in. A total 140 samples were sent for test and 26 samples tested positive for bird flu.
Last year too, the district reported the influenza outbreak but was contained for being localized in nature. Bird Flu can spread to humans in rare conditions, and if it happens, it can trigger a person to person transmission, experts said.
Bird Flu in Kerala: 12,000 ducks were culled in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, restrictions imposed in affected areas
By: FE Online |
December 11, 2021 2:38 PM
Use and sale of eggs, meat and manure of ducks, chickens, quails and domestic birds in the affected area has also been prohibited in the affected area.
A total of 12,000 ducks were culled in ward number 10 of the Thakazhi gram panchayat in Kerala’s Alappuzha district after the state reported bird flu cases on Thursday. The culled birds were buried safely within a radius of one kilometre in the 10th ward of Thakazhi panchayat. The animal rearers will be compensated according to the government norms, animal husbandry minister J Cinchu Rani in the state capital said.
The ward number 10 of the Thakazhi gram panchayat and the area has been declared as a containment zone, strict restrictions on movement on people and vehicles has been imposed. Use and sale of eggs, meat and manure of ducks, chickens, quails and domestic birds in the affected area has also been prohibited in the affected area.
Alapuzha District Collector chaired an emergency meeting on Friday and decided to step up its measures to prevent the bird flu from spreading to other areas like Champakulam, Nedumudi, Muttar, Viyapuram, Karuvatta, Thrikkunnapuzha, Thakazhi, Purakkad, Ambalapuzha South, Ambalapuzha North, Edathva panchayats and Harippad Municipality areas where restrictions are applicable.
While the Rapid Response Teams will be deployed in the affected areas and distribute preventive medicines to the people, the Department of Animal Welfare will ensure the service of Rapid Response Teams and bury the birds.
The Assistant Forest Conservator on the other hand will monitor and examine whether the migrant birds in the affected areas were infected with the disease. The animal husbandry department has been asked to submit daily reports on bird flu prevention activities.
The state animal husbandry department confirmed bird flu (H5N1) influenza) on Thursday after reports of some samples sent to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease in Bhopal turned in. A total 140 samples were sent for test and 26 samples tested positive for bird flu.
Last year too, the district reported the influenza outbreak but was contained for being localized in nature. Bird Flu can spread to humans in rare conditions, and if it happens, it can trigger a person to person transmission, experts said.
No comments:
Post a Comment