Defra's Message On Avian Influenza

Featured Article
Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Veterinary
Article Date: 28 Feb 2006 - 16:00 PDT

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The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued a bulletin online in which it reiterates how infectious avian influenza (bird flu) is for birds and how badly it can affect commercial, wild and pet birds.

Defra added that the detection of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus strain near Lyon, France, raises the probability that it will surface in the UK.

Defra is asking all keepers of any types of birds to maintain a high level of biosecurity to reduce the risk of introducing the disease. Everyone who keeps poultry or other domestic birds should remain vigilant for signs of the disease.

Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said:

"Early detection and slaughter of infected birds and dangerous contacts, and the imposition of movement controls around infected premises provide the most effective method of achieving this. We have eradicated previous outbreaks of avian influenza successfully in domestic birds using this method.

New information for organic poultry producers, on what happens if poultry are confined indoors to comply with official veterinary requirements, has been issued by Defra. Click Here (PDF).

More Avian Influenza Pages on Defra Web Site

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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