Emergency Planning - Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

Avian Influenza is primarily a disease of birds, not humans.  It is possible for people to become infected but only rarely and after very close contact with infected animals or faeces.  Avian Influenza is a contagious disease of animals caused by the influenza A virus.  It is one of the most important poultry diseases and outbreaks of the disease have been reported in a number of countries.  In 1991 the disease was confirmed in a flock of 8000 turkeys in Norfolk. 

The government has disease control procedures and plans in place, called the Avian Influenza Contingency Plan. This was exercised in Scotland in April 2006 with the confirmation of H5N1 in a swan from Fife.  Increased surveillance of wild bird mortality is taking place and imports of live birds/ products have been banned.  The use of vaccines will be considered but do have a number of limitations:

• Each bird would need to be injected individually and it can take up to three weeks for birds to develop optimum protective immunity.  Some poultry may even require two doses.
• Vaccines will protect against the disease but will not protect birds from becoming infected and shedding the virus.  Vaccination may in fact lead to difficulties in identifying birds that are carrying the virus and therefore pose a problem for control.
• Emergency use of the vaccine under the Disease of Poultry (England) Order 2003 would require EU approval.

Impact on the Countryside

It is unlikely that the countryside would be closed down as it was during the Foot and Mouth outbreak. Avian Influenza is less contagious, its survival time shorter and it is not able to independently travel long distances through the air.  Legal powers to close land will only be taken in the immediate vicintiy of a confirmed case (ie. within the protection zone).  There is no need for people to stop visiting the countryside.

Domestic Animals

In the current circumstances the risk to dogs and cats is very low.  The Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking further independant scientific advice after a few confirmed reports of cat infection on the continent.  The knowledge of the disease so far suggests that there has been no transmission to humans from animals other than domestic poultry.     

Advice to bird owners

East Hampshire District Council have produced an information sheet for people who keep birds.  You can register to receive this by emailing ehealth@easthants.gov.uk or online or by calling 01730 234360.

The following links will take you to other sources of information from, DEFRA, HSE and the Food Standards Agency:

Finding a dead bird

Working with Avian Influenza

Eating poultry and eggs

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