Cases of avian influenza, aka bird flu, have been confirmed in waterfowl in Bedford Borough by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
While swans and geese are particularly affected, any bird - including domestic poultry and pet birds - may pick up the flu.
The influenza viruses that affect birds are not well adapted to infect humans therefore human infections with bird flu are rare. However, occasionally some people are diagnosed with bird flu, usually after being in very close contact with infected birds.
Public information posters have been put up in areas where infected birds have been found with the following advice:
- Keep to footpaths
- Keep dogs on leads
- Do not pick up or touch any sick or dead birds
- Do not touch wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings
- If contact has been unavoidable take sensible hygiene precautions like washing hands and cleaning footwear; this is particularly important if you keep birds at home.
If you find any dead wild birds, please report them to DEFRA online at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds or by calling 03459 33 55 77.
The UK is currently subject to strict control measures as part of a national effort to control the spread of avian influenza. England is now in what is known as an “Avian Influenza Prevention Zone” or AIPZ. This means that by law you must follow strict hygiene rules to stop bird flu spreading.
For people who keep birds and live within the AIPZ, the following mandatory housing measures (housing your birds to protect them from possible infection by wild birds) may apply:
- If you have more than 50 birds, you must house them. This applies to all types of birds
- If you keep less than 50 birds and they are for your own use only (for example you do not sell or give away their eggs or meat), you do not have to house them
- If you keep less than 50 birds but you do sell or give away their eggs, poultry products or live birds, you must house them. These birds are known as ‘poultry’.
In addition to any housing measures required, anyone that keeps birds must also register them with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Further information on what you need to do if you keep birds is available on the GOV.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-how-to-prevent-it-and-stop-it-spreading