Avian influenza (Bird flu): Questions & answers
This page was last updated on 9 June 2008.
What is the Government doing
- What is the Government's objective in response to avian influenza?
- Are you prepared for an outbreak of bird flu in the UK?
- What precautionary measures should we take against bird flu now?
- What are you doing to see if wild birds are carrying disease?
- Why is the government not vaccinating birds against Avian Influenza?
- Why do you undertake surveillance on wild birds?
- What is being done by whom in the surveillance programme?
- Some of your samples are being taken from birds that are shot? Should Defra really be encouraging this?
- Are any other countries doing surveillance on wild birds?
- Shouldn’t Defra do more to inform poultry keepers of the risks and the actions they should be taking?
- What else has Defra done to prepare for an outbreak of bird flu?
What is the Government's objective when responding to avian influenza?
Our objective, working closely with partners in Government and elsewhere, is to ensure a swift and effective response to prevent spread through proportionate and evidence based control measures which: ensure maximum protection of human safety – particularly worker safety; provide due protection for the welfare of domestic birds if they become affected; and minimise the impact on international trade, the rural economy and the sustainability of the industry.
Are you prepared for an outbreak of bird flu in the UK?
We have robust disease control procedures and plans in place, set out in Defra's published Contingency Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases which covers avian influenza. This was laid before Parliament on 10 December 2007.
What precautionary measures should we take against bird flu now?
Guidance is available here for bird keepers.
What are you doing to see if wild birds are carrying disease?
There is a UK wild bird survey for avian influenza viruses.
Back to questionsWhy is the government not vaccinating birds against Avian Influenza?
We do not intend to permit the vaccination of birds outside zoos in advance of an outbreak or as an immediate disease control response. A high standard of biosecurity, separation of poultry from wild birds and careful surveillance for signs of disease remain the most effective means of protection.
Currently available vaccines have disadvantages in that although they are able to reduce mortality, it is possible that some vaccinated birds would still be capable of transmitting the disease if they became infected whilst not displaying symptoms. This would increase the time taken to detect and eradicate the virus.
We have made a limited exception for captive birds of significant conservational merit which are held in licensed zoos because zoos are able to contain the disadvantages of vaccination through high levels of biosecurity and veterinary surveillance ensured by regular inspection. Further information...
Why do you undertake surveillance on wild birds?
As a consequence of Avian Influenza (AI) outbreaks in the Far East and Eastern Europe, EU Member States agreed in 2005 to increase levels of surveillance for possible presence of AI in certain species of migratory waterbirds. A programme for monitoring of wild bird mortalities, including for evidence of West Nile Virus, had been in operation for some years and we built on that arrangement.
The wild bird survey provides an early warning if highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses are introduced into the UK in wild birds and an assessment of the risk of introduction into domestic poultry.
What is being done by whom in the surveillance programme?
The Surveillance Programme is in three strands. First is screening a sample of wild birds found dead in surveillance areas. Second is that samples are taken from birds caught live by staff at wetlands centres and then released. The final strand is that samples will be taken from birds which are shot as part of existing legal wildfowling activities. The Surveillance Programme is ongoing. Further information...
Defra will continue the monitoring of unusual mortality events or ‘die-offs’ in a separate survey to investigate the causes of deaths of large numbers of wild birds.
Some of your samples are being taken from birds that are shot? Should Defra really be encouraging this?
We take samples from dead birds that have been shot in the course of expected legal wildfowling activities. We have stated expressly that we are not seeking an increase in the number of birds to be shot in order to satisfy the surveillance programme.
Are any other countries doing surveillance on wild birds?
The EU Member States agreed to intensify and co-ordinate surveillance programmes for migratory waterbirds.
Shouldn’t Defra do more to inform poultry keepers of the risks and the actions they should be taking?
It has long been the case that anyone who keeps poultry has an obligation to report signs of illness in their birds, and must know what to do about an avian influenza notifiable disease: this includes operating adequate biosecurity, and consulting their vet and reporting notifiable diseases to their Divisional Veterinary Manager.
Guidance material has been distributed to our partners in the industry who have helped distribute this material to their members, who cover the great majority of bird keepers. A simple one-page leaflet on biosecurity and surveillance for smaller concerns and hobby keepers is also available on our website and has previously been sent out to organisations representing the industry to send on to their members. It has also been mailed to 3,800 vet practices in Great Britain.
In addition we have placed adverts in trade and specialist press targeting the same audience to get biosecurity and surveillance messages across.
We have produced guidance to help bird keepers plan how they will protect their birds from wild birds. This has been produced in consultation with stakeholders. It has been distributed with the help of industry partners and their organisations, to reach as many bird keepers as possible. It is available on the Defra website.
What else has Defra done to prepare for an outbreak of bird flu?
Page last modified:
11 June, 2008