Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 has been found in dead wild birds throughout Europe, including countries close to the UK such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and France.
These outbreaks have affected a number of wildfowl and wild bird species, including Tufted Ducks, Common Pochard, wild geese, wild swans, gulls and raptors.
At this time of the year large numbers of wildfowl migrate South to avoid harsh winter weather in Scandinavia, Russia and the Ukraine and these may spread disease. Large numbers migrate to England and populations numbering many thousands may be seen on wildlife reserves. However, unless there is unusually harsh weather in England the numbers of wildfowl (that are normally implicated in the spread of this disease) reaching Guernsey are normally very low. They normally come this far South to escape snow and ice in England.
Jamie Hooper, Manager of Environment Guernsey, has said that
"We only have a handful of wildfowl visiting Guernsey at this time. "Numbers are very low and there is not the density of wildfowl that you would expect in England. "We see migrating wild birds from the North and East but we have not yet had the cold weather movement that you would expect if birds were escaping bad weather in England".
What to look out for - symptoms
Typically the disease starts suddenly and affects more than one bird. Look out for the following symptoms:
- Swelling of the head
- Darkening of the comb and wattles
- Lack of appetite
- Breathing difficulties
- Diarrhoea
- Drop in egg production and
- Sudden death without any signs of disease or accident being present.
Minimise Risk
There are a number of effective actions that you can take to minimise the risk of infection to your birds:
- Visiting ducks and waterfowl are the main concern. They will contaminate water and food put out for poultry. Therefore keep domestic ducks and poultry away from ponds that might become infected by visiting wildfowl.
- Improve the bio-security of your domestic poultry by cleaning and disinfecting clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry.
- If possible keep domestic poultry under cover. In England the Chief Veterinary Officer of Defra has advised that poultry should be kept housed for the next 30 days but he said that this may not be possible if the only poultry house that you have is a small overnight sleeping house. Therefore, you need to be realistic and consider the welfare needs of the birds.
- If the birds cannot be kept inside then try to cover the outside pens with wire netting.
- Try not to feed poultry or ducks outside as this will attract wild birds. If this is not possible then cover food and water so that it cannot be contaminated by wild birds.
What to do if you suspect that birds have Avian Influenza
- If poultry keepers suspect that their birds have Avian Influenza then they must inform the States Veterinary Officer (David Chamberlain - phone 234567 during office hours) and their own vet.
- If you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or gulls, or five or more dead wild birds of other species in the same location, you should report this to the States Veterinary Officer.
Further precautions
The States Veterinary Officer has advised that any local poultry shows should be postponed or cancelled whilst the risk of Avian Influenza remains. Poultry keepers are advised not to show their birds at any poultry shows in England at this time.
Poultry imports should be halted immediately and any birds that have arrived in Guernsey in the last week must be isolated for 21 days and any symptoms reported immediately to the States Veterinary Officer.
