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Avian influenza
Avian Influenza Update: 4 August 2008
Latest update
On 11 July, Defra published a final epidemiology report into
the Avian Influenza outbreak confirmed in Oxfordshire on 4
June. The report concluded that infection was confined to
a single premise, and that there was no evidence of infection
on any contact or geographically close premises, or evidence
of spread of infection to any other premises. The Surveillance
Zone and remaining disease control area restrictions put in
place following the outbreak of H7N7 avian influenza in Oxfordshire
was lifted at 00.01 on Tuesday 8 July. There are therefore
no longer any AI restrictions on BTO fieldwork in this area.
For further details about Defra’s approach to Avian
Influenza, please go to: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/ai/index.htm
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How did avian influenza
reach western Europe?
H5N1 has been circulating in Asian poultry populations for several
years now. During the period 2005 to 2006, as the virus spread from
its original focus in south-east Asia to central Asia, then the
Black Sea region, and more recently into West Africa, the means
of its transmission were unclear. Whilst there was much speculation
about the role of wild birds, there were also clear grounds for
suspecting that movements of poultry and cagebirds were at least
partly responsible. However, the cases in western Europe in late
winter 2005-06 pointed very strongly towards spread by wild birds
following cold-weather influxes of birds from further east. The
pattern of more recent outbreaks in Europe is not easy to explain,
and may well involve a mixture of spread both by wild birds and
by the poultry industry.
What to do
Birdwatchers can be of great assistance in staying alert for unusual
cases of mortality or sickness in wild birds. Contrary to some suggestions,
there is clearly no need to report every single dead bird that you
come across. However, if you do notice unusual mortality (e.g. several
dead birds in unexplained circumstances) then please contact Defra
immediately on 08459 335577. In addition, Defra are interested in
all reports of single dead swans.
It should be stressed that H5N1 is a disease of birds. It is of
great concern for the poultry industry but does not appear to be
a major issue for human health in the UK. Whilst deaths have occurred
in other countries, the numbers of cases have been very low and
have been confined to people in very close contact to infected poultry.
The advice is that there is no danger from eating well-cooked poultry
and there is certainly no danger from normal birdwatching activities.
Sensible basic hygiene should be practised if you do come into closer
contact with birds (for more information click here). Ringers have been
issued with more detailed guidance (click
here for details).
Further information will be provided as it becomes
available.
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