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What is the position with poultry imports from France at the present time? With the probable link of the Bernard Matthews outbreak with infected farms in Europe, what restrictions are currently in place with France & German imports?
With that in mind this article throws a different point of view on the spread of Avian Flu.
Well, they do say that "Its an ill wind that blows nobody any good" (or something like that) and the good news is that H5N1 has been diagnosed in 29 birds of prey to date, mostly carrion eaters, but we live in hope. Now, just think what might happen if H5N1 were to be found in the Exe Estuary, or Falmouth, or in any other place where birds of prey live off the wading bird community in winter time? Terrible ! Cheers,
Well, they do say that "Its an ill wind that blows nobody any good" (or something like that) and the good news is that H5N1 has been diagnosed in 29 birds of prey to date, mostly carrion eaters, but we live in hope. Now, just think what might happen if H5N1 were to be found in the Exe Estuary, or Falmouth, or in any other place where birds of prey live off the wading bird community in winter time? Terrible ! Cheers,
What is the position with poultry imports from France at the present time? With the probable link of the Bernard Matthews outbreak with infected farms in Europe, what restrictions are currently in place with France & German imports?
No imports allowed into UK from AI affected areas in Czech Republic or Germany:-
So the poultry industry get minimal restrictions and we get blanket bans. Since H5N1 is primarily a chicken disease 100% mortality it is obvious that DEFRA's priorities are nothing to do with disease spread and all to do with the Economy. Banning pigeon racing is nothing more than a Public Relations exercise which has minimal effect on the National Economy and maximum effect on our Sport.
Very hard to understand defras way of thinking mick as you say we have poultry with high risk and minimal restrictions pigeons with low risk and maximum restrictions Money comes to mind in all this whatever they do to us they are not going to be looking at paying out compensation whereas they are with the poultry industry
Very hard to understand defras way of thinking mick as you say we have poultry with high risk and minimal restrictions pigeons with low risk and maximum restrictions Money comes to mind in all this whatever they do to us they are not going to be looking at paying out compensation whereas they are with the poultry industry
its never been put to task yet rose ,just look whats about to happen at the moment with the bicc not long before some one comes up with something and finds a loop hole somewhere hopefully
its never been put to task yet rose ,just look whats about to happen at the moment with the bicc not long before some one comes up with something and finds a loop hole somewhere hopefully
I find it interesting that in their Risk Assessment for Parks & Open spaces there is no mention by DEFRA of that ubiquitous park dweller the feral pigeon. Pigeons would seem to pose no risk in Urban parks.
' Of importance to public parks and open waters the susceptible species include all varieties of ducks and geese.'
However when it comes to healthy racing pigeons a different attitude prevails, pigeons become top of the list.
Well, they do say that "Its an ill wind that blows nobody any good" (or something like that) and the good news is that H5N1 has been diagnosed in 29 birds of prey to date, mostly carrion eaters, but we live in hope. Now, just think what might happen if H5N1 were to be found in the Exe Estuary, or Falmouth, or in any other place where birds of prey live off the wading bird community in winter time? Terrible ! Cheers,
i had mentioned at the very beginning of the outbreak ,[when the public were frightened of their budgie etc and pigeons were not looked on kindly ] ,that the hawks which are protected could quite easy carry this disease???[killing these water birds that carry the disease, and capable of spreading it ] if Joe public thought this ,,,,it wouldn't be impossible to to kill two birds with one stone , so to speak ,,,,a great big if ,, but you get nowhere without trying.
H5N1 has been confirmed in the swans found at DIANE CAPELLE. Contolled Zone and Observation Zone measures have been introduced in the relevant areas and although a High Level Risk has been declared for France as a whole at this stage there are no further restrictions on liberations The Interntional Perpignan race is still on
Continental Race license re-instated, with some areas still excluded:-
General Licence European Communities Act 1972, Section 2(2) The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006(1)
Under regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006 (“the Regulations”), having carried out a veterinary risk assessment and being satisfied that the bird gathering and the transit of birds to and from such a gathering will not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza virus, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs hereby licenses the arrangement of the collecting together of poultry or other captive birds, in the case of racing pigeons, for racing within the British Isles and from France, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Channel Islands (excluding liberations from, or that will overfly, the Moselle region in the North East of France) only, at fairs, markets, shows, exhibitions and other gatherings, subject to the conditions set out in the Schedule.
Should the risk situation change, the Risk Assessment will be revised, and the general licence that permits gatherings may be revoked, meaning that gatherings may be restricted or banned.
Definitions ‘British Isles’ for the purposes of this licence means England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man but it excludes the Channel Islands.
‘Epidemiological group’ for the purposes of this licence means a group of birds with a defined epidemiological relationship that share approximately the same likelihood of exposure to a pathogen. This may be because they share a common environment (e.g. birds in a shed), or because of common management practices. Often, this is the whole flock.
‘Gathering’ for the purposes of this licence means the arrangement by a person of the collecting together of poultry or other captive birds from different epidemiological groups at one location.
‘Event organiser’ for the purposes of this licence means the person who accepts the responsibility of ensuring the licence conditions are implemented.
‘Premises’ for the purposes of this licence means any land, building or place (this includes car parks).
Sarah Church Authorised by the Secretary of State 14 August 2007
New paper [scientific opinion] adopted by EU May 2007, “AI vaccination poultry and other captive birds.”
‘Other captive birds’ includes pigeons and the only mention of ‘pigeon’ in whole report is on page 16, Table 2. Summary of the different situations encountered in AI Vaccination, based on very limited experimental data available for each of the species/vaccines combinations.
This table is an important reference for us as one of its column headings is ‘susceptibility before vaccination’ and entry 3b for pigeons states ‘no transmission and disease’. This is not the same as ‘no transmission and no disease’ and means that EU accepts that pigeons can contract the disease [which we know] but cannot transmit it [which we know].
‘Captive birds’ on page 41, 3.1.1 conclusions and recommendations, second bullet-point, “However, for …. captive bird species the level of effectiveness of current AI vaccination is not sufficiently known. That conclusion is supported by Table 2, page 16, column heading ‘susceptibility after vaccination’ ‘No Transmission & Disease’ - the pigeon’s susceptibility was unaltered, so this vaccine was ineffective.
Avian Influenza has been confirmed at a free range turkey farm also with ducks and geese near Diss in Suffolk. A 3km PZ and a 10km SZ has been introduced.
The DEFRA website will cover the outbreak very soon and what other restrictions will apply. I will update as and when I have further information from DEFRA and what implications this outbreak has for sales, auctions and shows.
If you need advice on avian flu please call the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77 between 6.00am - 10.00pm Monday to Friday.
Defra has today confirmed 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.
Seems things aren't as hunky-dory on H5N1 front as WHO figures may suggest.
Looking at bare figures, human infections appear to have peaked two years ago [apart from Indonesia which is having a particularly bad time] tho the 'old' percentage of 50% of infections being fatal has gone up dramatically. With fewer human infections you would think that the chances of mutation into a human influenza virus seemed slim?? Er, no..
Just read a piece of research work which has identified Europe has its own 3 particular viral strains circulating now, the authors call them V1, V2 [Vietnam] and EMA [European-Middle East-Africa] after their 'parent strains'. EMA has a mutation, it has evolved to infect mammals more easily, and the authors give this as the reason for the reports of cats & dogs becoming infected in Western Europe..
hi defra have stopped all the canary shows so whats going to the pigeons is anybodys guess but i know the way ime thinking billy
There is a complete ban throughout UK on all bird shows from today, including pigeons. It's worth remembering that this will probably be relaxed very soon, and the 3 Zones remain for only 21 days, and 1 for 30 days, provided there are no further outbreaks.
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