Avian Influenza H5N8 in UK

There have been a few sporadic confirmed cases in the UK and reading today of a wild wigeon duck (deceased) has been found to be contaminated.

The risk to humans is very low as confirmed by Public Health England.

But importantly "the risk to kept birds cannot be eliminated by housing alone. This virus can be carried into buildings on people and things to infect birds. Good bio-security measures are essential".

If a dead wild bird is found please report to DEFRA on 03459 33 55 77.

plumsmum2005 said:

There have been a few sporadic confirmed cases in the UK and reading today of a wild wigeon duck (deceased) has been found to be contaminated.

The risk to humans is very low as confirmed by Public Health England.

But importantly "the risk to kept birds cannot be eliminated by housing alone. This virus can be carried into buildings on people and things to infect birds. Good bio-security measures are essential".

If a dead wild bird is found please report to DEFRA on 03459 33 55 77.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the Thread.

Question: Is this notice from last Fall's migration or is this an 'early warning' for this coming Spring's migration?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-winter-2016-to-2017

Just to add the latest update. There is a neat summary of events if you scroll down the page.

I've got some family with a few back yard chickens and have been hearing how their getting a bit stir crazy fro being kept inside their hut/shed for so long. They're even starting to pluck each other
Better than bird flu I know but they still sound upset.

That is scary stuff, K. Thanks for posting. Effective bio-security is so critical!

ZephyrFly said:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-winter-2016-to-2017

Just to add the latest update. There is a neat summary of events if you scroll down the page.

I've got some family with a few back yard chickens and have been hearing how their getting a bit stir crazy fro being kept inside their hut/shed for so long. They're even starting to pluck each other
Better than bird flu I know but they still sound upset.

Click to expand...

Thank-you, for the article!

With the January 2017 reports of H5N8 (see above article), it implies /states that that the virus has held into the Winter in England. This brings deep concern to me that it is likely to be carried North as part of the European Flyway, the Spring Migration.

As stated by the OP: "But importantly ""the risk to kept birds cannot be eliminated by housing alone. This virus can be carried into buildings on people and things to infect birds. Good bio-security measures are essential"."

Since we are still a couple of months prior to the beginning of the Spring Migrations, there is time (In those Areas without Outbreaks) to consider what our current "Bio-Security" practices are and what we need to learn. If you are unaware of what they are, it is time to become educated.

What is the likelihood of a Major World Wide Outbreaks this Spring. With the exception of the European Flyway. There appears to be wide spread concern within the monitoring government agencies. But:

What do they know: First, and very sadly, there is little way to know whether the Virus has activity spread within the Migration Populations now in the far Southern regions of the World. There are very few monitoring stations. In addition, the populations are far more separated compared to the extensive over lapping of the Northern end of the Migration regions. The reality is, the monitoring agencies do not know! So, we wait for the beginning of the Spring Migrations and hold our breaths.

Did you see the maps here?

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ment_data/file/580867/hpai-europe-update7.pdf

Very rarely a case of if more a case of when?

plumsmum2005 said:

Did you see the maps here?

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ment_data/file/580867/hpai-europe-update7.pdf

Very rarely a case of if more a case of when?

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I have not seen these maps!

You have stated this so very well: "Very rarely a case of if more a case of when?"

I have been following the Americas' maps, but not the European maps, clearly a major mistake on my part. They are deeply concerning.

I am very concern that with the exception of the Government Agencies and the effected Farming Sectors, this side of the Pond is fundamentally; Sound A Sleep!, as to the dangers those maps are presenting!!

Thank-you both of you for providing this very important information!