Bird flu information

 

There are many types of Avian Influenza or bird flu and viruses differ in their ability to cause severe disease in birds and poultry.  Bird flu viruses do not readily infect people because it is difficult for them to cross the species barrier.

 

Strains of the H5 and H7 subtype cause very serious disease and high death rates in poultry.   Wild ducks and birds can be infected with highly pathogenic viruses without necessarily showing symptoms of disease.  It is highly unlikely that people would catch the virus from coming into contact with birds in their garden or from eating poultry.

 

The H5N1 strain is the focus of particular concern because it has caused very serious illness and death among a number of people who live and work in close proximity with infected birds.   The government has robust plans in place should the bird flu virus mutate and begin to pass from human to human more readily. (Further information is available on the Department of Health's Pandemic Flu webpage.)

 

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has an Exotic Diseases Plan that sets out the control measures applicable in any outbreak and also deals with the human health measures for those who might be exposed to risk of infection.

 

The Health Protection Agency, in collaboration with local Primary Care Trusts, will coordinate any local public health protection response, which includes local risk assessment, follow up of those who might have been exposed to risk of infection and enhanced surveillance as necessary.

 

Guidance for those handling wild birds and for those working with poultry is available from the Defra web site.

 

 

Consumers are reminded that poultry meat and eggs are valuable sources of nutrition.  However, good hygiene standards should be maintained when handling, cooking and storing poultry and eggs to avoid the possibility of food poisoning. Go to the Food Standards Agency website for more information.