Pigeonbasics.com

Recent reports have indicated that imported day-old ducklings from the Netherlands are being investigated as a possible source of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in England.

Defra: Today Sunday 18th November 2007, the current cull of 28,600 poultry has been completed on the 5 farms involved : 1 with definite infection and the other 4 were 'dangerous contacts' with that infected farm.

Well 'bird gatherings' are allowed again in Scotland from 0001 Friday 23rd.


http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Top.....uenza/Birdgatherings

CANNOT SEE WHY THE BAN HAS NOT BEEN LIFTED
FOR ALL OF THE UK

RAY

At least the door is opening, I can't see how DEFRA can continue with the ban in England & Wales now.

The ban on bird gatherings in the rest of the UK is lifted as at 1245 today.

The only restriction remaining in force is birds within the restricted Zones cannot leave these Zones to attend bird gatherings outside them.

Quoted from 82

The ban on bird gatherings in the rest of the UK is lifted as at 1245 today.

The only restriction remaining in force is birds within the restricted Zones cannot leave these Zones to attend bird gatherings outside them.

Great news

http://www.whitehallpages.net/.....=158&newlang=eng


Defra today announced 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.
Bird gatherings must take place under the normal biosecurity, notification and record-keeping requirements of a general licence, which can be found on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk

GREAT NEWS

DEFRA have published preliminary findings on the November 2007 AI Outbreak in Suffolk.

DEFRA basically ruled out the Poultry Industry bringing the virus here, but it does blame the Industry for the spread to other poultry premises thro poor biosecurity practices by the stockmen - they looked after all 5 'affected' premises.

DEFRA suspect wild birds of bringing the virus in, but they have no proof as there is no infection or virus in any of the wild birds sampled.

I've copied the Executive Summary, and the link for those who want more detail.



PRELIMINARY EPIDEMIOLOGY REPORT: AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK IN SUFFOLK, NOVEMBER 2007 AS AT 26 NOVEMBER 2007
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

(I) Following a report of suspected avian notifiable disease in turkeys in
Suffolk on 11 November 2007, highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza
(AI) infection was confirmed on 12 November.

(ii) The infected premises (IP) comprised 5,000 growing turkeys, kept in 5
groups of 1,000, 1,118 ducks and 410 geese maintained under a free range
system. Samples collected at slaughter for laboratory examination revealed
that two groups of turkeys had a significant prevalence of infection (>50%), a
further group had a maximum prevalence of 5%. No evidence of infection
was found in the geese, but infection was detected in the ducks for which the
maximum prevalence was 2%. The findings suggest that there had been an
initial focal introduction of virus into one of the groups of turkeys, rather than a
widespread exposure of all poultry on the site.

(iii) Epidemiological investigations of the IP resulted in the identification of five
dangerous contact (DC) premises as a result of them being tended by the
same stockmen who employed poor biosecurity measures. Only turkeys were
kept on four of these DC premises, ducks, geese and turkeys were kept on
the other DC premises. Samples were taken for laboratory examination from
the birds culled at the DC premises. Infection was detected in one group of
turkeys on one of these premises, which became designated as IP2. The
maximum prevalence of infection in this group was 10%. This was consistent
with infection having been transmitted from IP1.

(iv) Genetic analyses of the virus isolates from the turkeys on the two IPs and
the ducks on IP1 indicated that the birds were infected from a single source.
The current isolate has the closest genetic identity to an isolate from wild birds
in the Czech Republic detected in mid-2007. The current isolate is
phylogenetically distinct from the previous isolate of H5N1 in 2007 obtained
from the Holton outbreak.

(v) The poultry on the premises which supplied the birds to IP1 and IP2 were
sampled and tested with negative results. All of the birds were hatched in
Great Britain.

(vi) The surveillance of poultry in the PZ and SZ has not revealed any further
infected flocks indicating that infection has been confined to the two IPs.

(vii) The results of the epidemiological investigations to date provide no
evidence that infection was introduced via imported poultry or poultry products
or any activities associated with such importations.

(viii) IP1 was located in an area where wild birds were relatively common and
was notably near to an ornamental lake which supports some 1000
waterfowl. H5N1 infection has not been detected in wild birds nor have any
incidents of high mortality been observed in the area. An enhanced
surveillance programme has been initiated. At the present time wild birds,
most likely migratory species from central Europe, cannot be ruled out as the
source of infection. Epidemiological investigations are continuing and the
results will be provided in further reports

(ix). Two important and epidemiologically significant findings are evident from
the investigations to date. These are:

- The poor biosecurity measures employed by the stockmen,
which in this case were peripatetic and therefore cared for more
than one unit of poultry which resulted in the transmission of
infection in the area

- The siting of a free range poultry unit (IP1), which is likely to
attract wild birds because of feed availability, in an area already
unavoidably occupied by populations of wild bird species,
notably migratory waterfowl, but also “bridge” species (such as
gulls) which are capable of becoming infected by HP H5N1 and
transmitting the virus from primarily infected wild birds to
commercial poultry.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/ai-prelim-epireport071129.pdf

3rd December reports to OIE of H5N1 in farmed turkeys in Poland, cause, contact with wild birds; and in backyard poultry in Romania, cause not known.

DEFRA have published advance notice of its intention to lift the AI Zones in Suffolk & Norfolk, bird gatherings allowed again in these currently restricted areas from 19th December - provided no further outbreaks.

On 6 December, plans were announced for lifting the Avian Influenza Control Zones on the following dates, providing there is no adverse change in the disease situation:

On Saturday 8 December, the Protection Zone around the first infected premises (IP1) near Diss will be lifted and become part of the wider Surveillance Zone.

On Monday 10 December, the Protection Zone around the second infected premises (IP2) near Thetford will be lifted and become part of the wider Surveillance Zone.

On Wednesday 19 December, both the Surveillance Zone and the Restricted Zone will be lifted.

Movement restrictions will remain in place in the Surveillance and Restricted Zones until those zones are lifted on 19 December.

When the second Protection Zone is lifted on 10 December, the housing requirements for birds in the Restricted Zone will be lifted. However, this requirement will stay in place for birds in the Surveillance Zone until that zone is lifted on 19 December.

Bird gatherings will continue to be banned within the Surveillance and Restricted Zones until those zones are lifted on 19 December. Until then, birds cannot be taken out of those zones to bird gatherings in the rest of the country.

The lifting of the zones is dependent on there being no further cases of disease during this time. However, it is vital that all bird keepers in the UK, and especially those in existing disease restriction zones, continue to maintain good biosecurity and be vigilant for any signs of disease. If you are concerned about the health of your birds you should seek advice from your veterinary surgeon. If you suspect that your birds have avian influenza, you should report it to your local Animal Health Office immediately.

Bird flu discovered in mute swans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7181384.stm

Quoted from darkknight

Bird flu discovered in mute swans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7181384.stm

Hope this does not effect Blackpool or anyone else for that matter

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7181384.stm

If it is H5N1 strain , it won't look good for any birds been at Blackpool. Auctions at hotels will be ok i guess.

just got this of chat

FROM THE DEFRA OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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.

Hopefully it will not affect Blackpool.
This is on the DEFRA website:

Bird fairs, markets, shows and other gatherings
Bird gatherings are permitted, except in the Control Area and Monitoring Area established in January 2008

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

The General Permit is still in place.

just heard it on the news that it is the deadly strain