Avian Flu Advice
These guidelines concern contingencies for outbreaks of Avian Influenza – the disease in birds. At present the H5N1 strain circulating poses little risk to human health. Should a strain of influenza develop that is highly infectious and pathogenic to humans, additional contingency plans would need to be developed to cover this scenario – this is beyond the scope of these guidelines. These guidelines deal specifically with private breeders, and the highly pathogenic strains of the avian influenza virus, in particular the H5N1 strain.
We use the term “susceptible birds” which are defined as any species of bird that is likely to be susceptible to avian influenza and which is not intended for the production of animal products. In effect this means ALL birds that are held by private breeders, no species is known to be unaffected by avian influenza.
Should an outbreak occur in your area, the Secretary of State can establish a restriction area when there is a risk of transmission of the virus to your collection. This enables vet inspectors to serve restriction notices on your collection where susceptible birds are kept.
There are three zones involved, an outbreak within 10km of your collection, which will be within a statutory DEFRA “surveillance zone”. Secondly, an outbreak within 3km of your collection is regarded as a statutory DEFRA “protection zone”. Finally when the outbreak is within your own collection.
Suggested preventive measures for private breeders
• Susceptible birds must be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds
• Susceptible birds must not be exposed to the risk of exposure to the faeces of wild birds or other material that may have been contaminated with avian influenza by wild birds. Cover aviaries with polythene sheeting and a finer mesh netting for exposed side areas where the mesh is large so to prevent wild birds entering
• Domestic ducks and geese must be kept separate from other susceptible birds
• birds at liberty, e.g., Peafowl, Guinea fowl, etc, should be placed in a wild bird proof enclosure away from any contamination by wild bird faeces
• Susceptible birds must be fed and provided with drinking water indoors or under a shelter which prevents wild birds from gaining access to the food or water supply
• Persons other than keepers of the birds must be prohibited from having access to areas where susceptible birds are kept
• The keeper of susceptible birds must take appropriate biosecurity measures in such areas and when entering and leaving such areas: e.g., foot dips, clean clothing & hand washes
• Birds being moved into your collection with the UK or those imported from Europe should be isolated for 21 days before being released into the collection
• Good records must be formulated for all your stock, in particular for your susceptible birds which must be individually identifiable with a numbered fixed ring
The above measures have been extracted from the recommendations sent to zoos in the UK, under a statutory instrument no. 2990 Avian Influenza Preventive Measures in Zoos dated 28 th October 2005 by the Secretary of State, who can enforce these measures should there be an outbreak of avian influenza in your area
Vaccination : following a risk assessment the Secretary of State can require vaccination of susceptible birds in order to reduce risk of transmission. Thus in the event of an outbreak, there is a possibility that your collection of birds can be vaccinated, but this is at the discretion of the Secretary of State. Discussions with DEFRA are ongoing to determine the course of action they will take with threatened species and genetically valuable specimens.
Please note that it is probable that the vaccine will not protect all species. Therefore WPA is recommending that physical separation of your collection and wild birds with good biosecurity remains the best protection for your birds
Further points which should also be considered, and prepared for, in the event of any outbreak of avian influenza:
• Anti-bacterial disinfectants are ineffective against a virus, such as avian influenza. Anti-bacterials should be part of the normal regime of maintaining good hygiene within aviaries. However, a virucidal, such as Virkon S, should be acquired and used in the event of any outbreak of viral disease in the vicinity. Brampton , the manufacturer of Virkon, says it can be used in many ways – as an aerial disinfectant, an aviary cleaner, a washing disinfectant, a water & feed bowl cleaner and as part of a daily maintenance programme. Virkon is also manufactured in a pink powder form, called Pet Virkon. When mixed with water, it makes a liquid that is active and ready to use. It is available from many farm supply stores or direct from Brampton (tel. 01480 492141; email Brampton@btconnect.com ). As it can be used in the presence of birds, it is extremely useful.
• A powerful garden spray might be a useful acquisition to use with disinfectants or virucidals, especially if there is a need to spray the wheels of vehicles entering or leaving your premises.
• In addition to the bio-security measures outlines in g) above, you might consider using different shoes or boots in different aviary complexes, to avoid any possible transfer of disease. This precaution might be very worthwhile for particularly valuable birds. In this instance, shoes or boots for use in a particular aviary could be stored in a watertight dustbin just outside the aviary. Similarly, in the event of any outbreak in the vicinity, you should plan to change clothes when leaving the aviary complex to avoid the risk of carrying infection home or elsewhere.
• Covering aviaries with polythene can pose particular problems. We have found that large builders' merchants stock semi-transparent polythene in 25m by 4m sheets. This will allow sufficient daylight through to allow plants within the aviary to keep growing. Roofing batten strips can be used to hold down the sheeting, but additional weights might be required to hold down the polythene in strong winds. Another possible source of sheeting is polythene manufactured for polytunnels. This polythene is UV stabilised so that it will not rot in sunlight and is obviously designed to allow plantlife underneath to grow. One supplier which has already be used by a WPA member is First Tunnels Ltd, Dixon St, Barrowford, Lancashire BB9 8PL. Tel: 01282 601253. This company will make polythene sheets to order.
A major problem with polythene on the roof of an aviary is that it will tend to allow rainwater to settle in large puddles, and the weight of these could put considerable pressure on the aviary structure. Additional upright supporting poles can be fitted temporarily with something like a dustbin lid on the top to divert the water towards the perimeter of the aviary.
In the case of snow, a considerable weight may fall and remain on the aviary roof in quite a short period of time. We have found that a machine designed to vacuum garden leaves can also be used to blow leaves and snow from the roof and limit the additional weight. If snow settles on aviary wire, particularly if ice has clogged the mesh beforehand, a pressure hose can be very effective in clearing the wire and reducing the weight of snow.
• Ensure that bird faeces are stored separately from other dung/faeces.
• It might be worth considering the acquisition of masks for use with your birds that are capable of resisting the transfer of any virus, e.g. nanomasks.
• Make a list of your CITES (add link) listed birds, with their fixed leg ring number, and provide your vet with this information, including the precautions that you have already taken. This might prove invaluable should an outbreak occur in the vicinity of your aviaries, since you should have the support of your veterinarian should a vaccination programme be appropriate for your birds. Particularly identify birds that feature in International or Regional studbooks, since they are probably of the greatest conservation value.
• If you only have limited indoor facilities, prioritise now and plan which birds would occupy what indoor facilities you might have in the event of some needing to be sacrificed during an avian flu outbreak. Discuss this with your vet, so you have his / her support.
• Prepare a list of all birds kept in outdoor enclosures that cannot be moved inside (for a period of a few weeks or longer) if needed in the near future (for well-being or other reasons) and may need to be vaccinated or housed in such a manner that contact with wild birds or wild bird faeces is not possible. This list, together with a map of the premises indicating where these birds are housed, should be made available to the Veterinary authorities.
• Do not consider importing live birds, and/or bird products from countries where AI has been discovered. The EU banned the import of live birds, and/or bird products from Russia , Kazakhstan and certain Asian countries in an earlier phase. This has been extended to Turkey and Romania in the meantime.
• Try to keep up-to-date on changes to regulations within your own country, as these can be introduced very quickly to react to altered circumstances.