Defra Report 1 Feb 2008: two further cases, total of nine

Epidemiology Report on Abbotsbury 30 Jan 2008

PRESS RELEASE FROM ELM FARM RESEARCH CENTRE 11 Jan 2008
Vaccinate outdoor poultry now

All organic and free range poultry in the UK should be vaccinated now against the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu. So says the Organic Research Centre – Elm Farm, one of the leading organic research bodies in the country. It has been campaigning for preventive vaccination for outdoor poultry for the last two years as the disease has crept from the Far East to mainland Europe and to these shores.

“The three dead swans at the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset are a real trigger point,” says senior policy researcher Richard Sanders. “This case, following the H5N1 outbreak in commercial turkeys near Diss last November, gives us a definite indication that the virus is circulating in wild birds in the UK.” The Organic Research Centre is now urging Defra to implement a programme of preventive vaccination to allow organic, free range and hobby birds to remain outside.

Currently the Defra policy is to only use vaccination once its “stamping out” – slaughter on infected and contact premises - has been seen to be overwhelmed by the H5N1 virus. “We consider this wait and see approach from Defra to be seriously flawed in the case of H5N1 vaccination which takes six weeks to become effective. With such a time delay, emergency vaccination cannot create a firewall.”

The alternative to preventive vaccination, as suggested in the past by Government advisers and Defra’ is the shutting up of all poultry in housing.“ Housing all poultry is completely unacceptable, impractical and with some poultry species such as geese, impossible. When the national mood, as voiced so loudly by Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, is for quality, high welfare poultry production, then we must do everything in our power to protect and grow the sector,” says Richard Sanders. “We call on Defra to release its stocks of H5N1 poultry vaccine now and to start an orderly programme of preventive treatment.”

BBC News 11 Jan 2008 "Mr Houston said staff at the swannery were "very concerned", but had been encouraged by Defra's comments about the situation of outbreaks in wild ducks, where immunity had built up quickly" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7182474.stm

NEWS RELEASE Date: 10 January 2008
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/080110b.htm

Avian Influenza H5N1 confirmed in wild birds in Dorset Defra has today confirmed Avian Influenza in three dead wild mute swans in the Chesil Beach area in Dorset, following positive test results from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency for the highly pathogenic strain of H5N1. These birds were found and tested following our routine surveillance programme.

A Wild Bird Control Area and Monitoring Area are being established around the premises, encompassing Chesil Beach and Portland Bill, and the shape of these is based on expert ornithological advice.Inside these areas bird keepers are required to house their birds or otherwise isolate them from contact with wild birds, bird movements will be restricted, and bird gatherings are banned. Defra is also working closely with ornithological and other experts to consider what wider measures may be needed.No disease has been found in domestic birds, and a programme of surveillance is being carried out in the local wild bird population. There will be no culling of wild birds because such action may disperse birds further and would not aid control.

Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said:"While this is obviously unwelcome news, we have always said that Britain is at a constant low level of risk of introduction of Avian Influenza. Our message to all bird keepers, particularly those in the area, is that they must be vigilant, report any signs of disease immediately, and practice the highest levels of biosecurity." A full epidemiological investigation is underway.All poultry keepers on the GB Poultry Register are being notified, and the EU Commission has been informed.

Further news releases can be found on http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/index.htm
These include the link to the Epidemiological Report, 29 Nov 2007

Avian Influenza update:Bird gatherings permitted outside restricted zone
Defra today announced [Nov 23] that it is lifting the ban on bird gatherings, shows and pigeon racing which has been in place since confirmation of avian influenza in Suffolk on 12 November. This decision is based on expert consideration of surveillance and tracing results.As a precautionary measure, the ban will remain in place within the Restricted, Surveillance and Protection Zones in Suffolk and Norfolk. Birds from those zones will not be able to be taken to gatherings in the rest of the country. The ban wll probably be lifted on Dec 19 2007.

Further Details of measures to be taken in the PZ/SZ
Isolation of poultry and other captive birds. The occupier of premises in the PZ/SZ area [within a circle of radius 10 kilometres, centred on grid reference TM 06178 76666] where poultry or other captive birds are kept must ensure that they are-
(a) housed; or
(b) kept isolated (if housing is impractical or would adversely affect the birds' welfare to a significant degree).

Measures where birds are isolated:
If birds are kept isolated but not housed, the occupier must -
(a) ensure that they have no contact with poultry or other captive birds on other premises; and
(b) take all reasonable steps to minimise their contact with wild birds, including providing them with food and water to which wild birds have no access.

Where there is a requirement to house birds under AI precautions:
Anyone needing to erect temporary housing for birds is advised to contact their local planning department. Planning consent should readily be given because the structure is required under a Statutory Order and there should be no objections

Avian Influenza H5 cofirmed near Diss in Suffolk
Defra has today confirmed (12 Nov 2007) Avian Influenza in turkeys on a premises near Diss on the Norfolk/Suffolk border after preliminary tests were positive for the H5 strain. The premises also contain ducks and geese. All birds on the premises will be slaughtered.Full confirmation of results, including whether or not this is H5N1 and whether the strain is high or low pathogenic will follow.

A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone are being established around the Infected Premises. Inside these zones bird movements will be restricted and all birds must be housed or otherwise isolated from contact with wild birds. We are also urgently considering with ornithological and other experts what wider measures may be needed. All poultry keepers on the GB Poultry Register will be notified, and the EU Commission has been informed

Defra consulted with key stakeholders on the definition of a rare breed, and agreed that the following four rare breed criteria must be fulfilled:

a) be a native domestic breed predominantly or significantly domiciled in the UK. The term “significantly domiciled” has been included to cover breeds where the UK holds the world’s largest viable population and
b) have less than 1000 pure bred females in the UK for poultry or less than 100 breeding pairs in the UK for other captive birds and
c) have bred true for a significant number of generations (50 years for both poultry and other captive birds) and
d) is recognised by a governing body and accepted as a standardised breed.

The final list of rare breeds is available.This is not a closed list, and if evidence can be provided to support all four rare breed criteria, Defra will consider all further submissions to include additional breeds on the list. Equally, a breed can be removed from the list if it no longer fulfils all criteria.Any queries or submissions relating to rare breeds can be sent to navjit.mudhar@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

Latest stakeholder meeting with Defra 6th July 2007
Update on emerging European outbreaks in Germany, Czech Republic and France
Avian Influenza outbreaks in Great Britain 2007
AI Vaccination Technical Working Group - A Contingency Vaccination plan

See the minutes of the Avian influenza (bird flu): Vaccination technical working group - 8th December 2006 http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/keptbirds/working_group081206.htm

Tests have provided positive results for low pathogenic avian influenza in poultry on a non-commercial small holding near St Helens, Merseyside, England. Birds at the holding were purchased from the same market held in Chelford on Monday 7th May associated with the recent outbreak of H7N2 low pathogenic avian influenza in Conwy, North Wales News Release 7 June 2007

The Health Protection Agency is providing expert support and advice to the National Public Health Service for Wales after an H7N2 avian influenza infection was found in birds on a small farm in north Wales. The Agency has carried out tests on specimens from nine people associated with the incident; seven are from Wales and two were from north west England.Four of the test results were positive - two of these were from Wales and two were from north west England.The remaining five test results came back as negative. However because these five cases were associated with the birds and had a compatible illness, they are being treated as a precaution. H7N2 is a low pathogenic strain of avian flu. It is different to the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain currently circulating in South East Asia, and in Europe last year. In almost all human cases to date, H7N2 infection has generally been associated with a mild disease. The risk to the general public is considered to be very low.

Update on investigation into avian influenza outbreak in North Wales
The investigation into the source of the H7N2 low pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in North Wales is ongoing.
As part of the tracing exercise, and epidemiological investigation, Defra would like to hear from anyone, who has not already been contacted by Animal Health officials, who has:
Purchased from or supplied to Chelford Market in Cheshire on Monday 7 May 2007 or
Any poultry keeper who visited Chelford Market on this date whose birds have subsequently become ill.
These people should contact their local Animal Health Office - see www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/about-us/contact-us/animal-health-offices.htm - or phone the Defra helpline 08459 33 55 77 (open between 9am - 5pm 7 days a week). http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2007/animal-0525.htm

Update on avian influenza outbreak in Suffolk
Changes to Defra’s disease control measures were announced today, in light of the interim epidemiological report published as part of the on-going investigation into the outbreak of avian influenza in Suffolk.

Three zones were declared around the Infected Premises to reduce the spread of disease. These are the Protection Zone (3km), the Surveillance Zone (10km) and a wider Restricted Zone, encompassing wider areas of Suffolk and Norfolk. These zones are still in place.

The following alterations have now been made:

As of this morning (Friday 16th), the ban on bird gatherings in the non-restricted parts of England has been lifted and gatherings permitted again under general licence. The ban will remain in place within the entirety of the Restricted Zone, as per the legal requirements;
The temporary shooting ban, that was imposed in the 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone, will also be lifted today (Friday 16th);
The requirement to house domestic birds in the three zones (PZ, SZ & RZ) will remain in place until Protection Zone restrictions are lifted;
Bernard Matthews will end their voluntary suspension of movements of poultry products between their UK and Hungary operations from midnight, Friday 16th.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2007/animal-0216a.htm

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/latest-situation/index.htm

Avian influenza outbreak update 8th February
The Government is developing its investigation into what might have caused the outbreak of avian influenza in the Suffolk poultry farm, following preliminary scientific tests showing the viruses in Suffolk and recent outbreaks in Hungary may well be identical. Along with a number of other hypotheses Defra, the Food Standards Agency and the Health Protection Agency are investigating the possibility of a link between the Hungarian outbreaks, poultry meat from Hungary and the introduction of disease in the farm in Suffolk.The investigation will include arrangements at the company’s adjacent plant for food processing.Scientific advice remains that the risk to human health is negligible, and Food Standards Agency advice remains the same, that properly cooked poultry is safe to eat.Deputy Chief Vet, Fred Landeg said:“Our investigations have shown that one possible route of infection is poultry product imported from Hungary. It is important that this is investigated thoroughly, along with all the other possible routes. We are working in partnership with the Food Standards Agency and the Health Protection Agency to carry out a thorough investigation. We are also working in close contact with the Hungarian authorities and the European Commission.“The company involved have voluntarily agreed to temporarily suspend the movement of poultry products between their outlets in the UK and Hungary until the investigation is complete." http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070208b.htm

See the very full report in the Guardian/Observer exclusive: UK poultry contamination blamed on carcasses from Matthews' Hungarian factory. By Jo Revill, Health Editor http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2008935,00.html

H5N1 avian influenza (Asian strain) in poultry, Suffolk. Tests from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) have confirmed that the sample from the poultry found dead on a farm near Lowestoft in Suffolk contained the H5N1 avian flu virus, and that it is the highly pathogenic Asian strain. It is similar to the virus that was found in Hungary in January.

The State Veterinary Service are enforcing a Protection Zone of three kilometres radius and a Surveillance Zone of 10 kilometres around the premises where movement restrictions will be imposed and poultry must be isolated from wild birds

A wider Restricted Zone has also (in consultation with ornithologists) been imposed, covering east Suffolk and South East Norfolk bounded to the west and the north by the A140 and A47 respectively, an area of approximately 2090sqkm. It requires the isolation of poultry from wild birds, and requires movements to be licensed. As further information becomes available and in consultation with ornithological experts the restrictions in place may be adjusted. http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2007/animal-0203.htm

As from Saturday 3rd February 2007, all bird gatherings including fairs, markets, shows, exhibitions and pigeon races are banned under Regulation 6 of the Preventive Measures (England) Regulations 2006, because of the avian influenza situation. Those gatherings already in progress on Saturday can continue under strict biosecurity. All others must be cancelled. We will keep this ban under review as the disease situation develops.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/keptbirds/index.htm#birdfair

News from Holland: The International Conference Bird flu in Netherlands took place on 1 July '06
Conclusion of the European Conference (Ede, 1 July 2006): the Dutch hobby holders who vaccinate their chickens are the forward-liners of a new animal disease control policy.New vaccination round for hobby poultry in August: Vaccination against bird flu will be possible again in August for hobby birds. One month later all the non-vaccinated birds and poultry have to be kept inside again due to autumn migration, as Martijn Weijtens, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, announced at the international Conference about bird flu and about the future of hobby holding in Europe.
Read the presentation of martijn_weijtens