Avian Influenza in the UK – definition of terms, time line for the current outbreak – 25/01/17
Avian Influenza is a disease of commercial poultry including backyard, fancy fowl and bantams. It is caused by an avian influenza virus which in this outbreak is identified as H5N8.
Wild birds can die from avian influenza virus infection but by definition it is not the disease Avian Influenza.
The declaration of an Avian Influenza Prevention zone order was made on December 6th and is in place until 00:01 on February 28th.
H5N8 Avian Influenza Wild bird monitoring (green, 22), poultry (red, 8)
Worldwide since 26/8/2016, there has been 1169 cases of HPAI H5N8 reported to OIE in comercial poultry and wild birds resulting in the death of 6,535,182 birds in 36 countries. This equates to 40,000 birds dead a day.
There is no treatment, there is no vaccination, the virus can be assumed to anywhere in the UK – keeping your birds separated from wild birds (- covered pens, drinkers and feeders under cover and no contact with wild bird faeces) may keep your birds and all other poultry keepers birds free from disease and death.
The following is taken from the Defra report 28/1/15 on Avian ‘Flu: “…. We would like to remind all poultry keepers to maintain high standards of biosecurity and report any suspect clinical signs promptly. For reports of wild birds (any number of swans, ducks and geese or >5 other birds) found dead by the public, please notify the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 and see the Gov.uk website for more information: https://www.gov.uk/avian-influenza-bird-flu”
For more information go to Notifiable disease page.