Good Biosecurity urged to combat potential spread of Avian Influenza

Chief Veterinary Officer Jim Scudamore today advised poultry

producers to continue to take biosecurity precautions to minimise the introduction of avian influenza into their flocks.

Mr Scudamore said that while the overall risk of highly pathogenic

strain of avian influenza being introduced from the Netherlands and Belgium was judged to be low, he urged producers to follow the

Biosecurity Code for poultry owners.

Speaking ahead of the British Poultry Council's annual meeting in London today, Mr Scudamore praised the industry for its good

biosecurity, but said it was important that producers did not relax.

"Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a contagious notifiable disease which can cause high mortality in domestic poultry. Should an outbreak of avian influenza occur it would most likely be as a result of contact with wild birds, in particular their faeces.

"While wild birds are as susceptible as domestic poultry to the disease, they could carry low pathogenic strains of the virus which, if introduced into domestic poultry, could spread and mutate to the highly pathogenic form. Water fowl, especially ducks, posed a potentially greater risk in that they could carry high pathogenic strains of the virus without showing signs of disease.

"There are a number of ways in which producers can help protect their birds against infection with avian influenza viruses, such as avoiding contaminating poultry houses with birds' faecal material on footwear, clothing and equipment, cleansing and disinfecting clothing carefully and cleaning up feed spillages quickly to avoid attracting wild birds and vermin. Poultry keepers whose birds were close to standing water where water fowl congregated, should be especially mindful of the potential risk given that these birds could carry highly pathogenic strains of the virus," he said.

Mr Scudamore added it was vital that producers notified their vet

immediately if producers suspected disease or had sick birds on their holding. Early clinical signs of avian influenza include increased

mortality, falling egg production, signs of respiratory disease and adrop in food consumption.

His comments follow preliminary results indicating the first case in Germany, within the avian influenza protection zone covering the German/Dutch/Belgian borders.