AVIAN FLU

[Guest]

With respect, I think we fall needlessly into a pit of despair.  

 

It is a pity that there is a restriction on the movement of birds, but I don't recall seeing the same restriction placed on the movements or meetings of fanciers. Look at the Blackpool Show thread here, for example, people looking forward to meeting each other there.

 

Its never been tried before, I know, a pigeon show without pigeons.  ;D

 

My thoughts: Business as usual, except no live pigeons (er, or stuffed ones either  ;D ).

 

Organise something else, pretty novel, like the world's first 'video' pigeon show, a single new class - through the screen rather than through the wires! Get the video-cams organised quickly and get out to the competitor's lofts.

 

Make it as outrageous as possible if you like. Keep folk's spirits up.

 

 

 

[THE FIFER]

well put bruno, we must not give in, and stick togeather,

[preston powerblast]

Web cams and do an online show, now theres a thought.

But no featherless birds unless pre stated ;D

As you say we shouldnt give up..

                Regards

                          Gary

[Guest]

might have been written already on here i aint got the time to read lol has anyone got a lnk to the defra website where this anouncemnt is? i cant seem to find it

[fifestay]

Thought that you might be interested in info I received from mark Ruskell ...Info is a bit old now but nevertheless thought you might be interested

 

Thanks for your e-mail about this issue and apologies for the late response. I will bear your comments in mind and have already contacted some organic bodies regarding the issue. The following exchange below through parliamentary questions outlines Scottish Executive thinking...

Regards

Mark Ruskell

Avian Influenza

 

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been conducted into the economic impact of an outbreak of avian influenza amongst poultry flocks.

 

 (S2W-18803)

 

 

Ross Finnie: There have been no recent outbreaks of avian influenza in the UK and as such no quantified assessments are available. The impact of any outbreak would depend on specific circumstances such as the type of birds infected, their location the scale of any outbreak and its duration.

 

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to protect domestic fowl from avian influenza.

 

 (S2W-18804)

 

 

Ross Finnie: Whilst the threat of avian influenza to the UK is judged to be low a number of actions have been taken to protect the Scottish poultry industry. In particular the Scottish Executive has been working with other UK administrations to:

 

Provide stakeholders with biosecurity guidance to minimise the risk of disease incursion, egg through contact with wild birds, and minimise the risk of disease spread;

 

Undertake surveys into the presence of low pathogenic avian influenza in domestic poultry and migrating birds, and

 

Negotiate the terms of the new EU Avian influenza Directive, ensuring it provides an up to date and proportionate base to respond to any outbreak of avian influenza.

 

In addition, well developed contingency plans are held by the State Veterinary Service for responding to any suspect case of avian influenza.

 

It remains important that poultry keepers maintain good biosecurity levels and report any suspicion of disease to the State Veterinary Service

 

 

 

Mark Ruskell MSP - Mid Scotland and Fife region

Scottish Green Party Environment Speaker

Deputy Convenor Environment and Rural Development Committee

[Guest]

still cant find anything on defra website so at 9am will ring them

[Guest Doostalker]

There is nothing on this ban on the DEFRA website nor on any EU website I can find as at 09.00 today. However it was on the RPRA website this morning at 08.00.

 

I spoke with Peter Bryant this morning and he confirmed that he had read that the Yorkshire Agricultural Show had stopped the poultry and pigeon sections at their show this weekend. He then contacted DEFRA who confirmed a ban was being imposed and that they would be issuing a press release about it yesterday afternoon. So far this has not surfaced.

 

Remember that the Scottish Executive has its own Health and Agricultural ministry, who generally take a lead from DEFRA. So to be certain as to what is to apply in Scotland, make sure you check the Scottish Executive's website.

 

I had phoned Linda Brooks, the SHU Secretary last night and like myself she could find nothing on the web about it. She phoned her contact in the Scottish Executive this morning (Wed 26 Oct) who advised her that it had been only at 17.30 last night that the Scottish Executive had heard about any legislation. This was too late for her to contact the SHU office. However the SE spokesperson is able to confirm that legislation will be in place in Scotland within a week.The following is a resume of what the SHU has been advised:-

 

1. Legislation regarding shows etc will be introduced in Scotland by the end of next week,

2. This legislation will prevent shows, sales etc taking place without a licence from the Scottish Executive,

3. The structure for obtaining a licence is not yet in place,

4. A risk assessment must be carried out before a licence is issued,

5. The risk assessment will be done by a vet, (not clear yet if this will be Gov Vets or local vet managers)

6. If the risk assessment defines low risk then it is possible a licence may be issued to hold the event,

7. This situation will be indefinite, and it is likely that even after the immediate panic has subsided the requirement for a licence will remain,

 

There is no known impact as yet upon next year's racing, however, the SHU Secretary is pursuing this with the Scottish Executive. The SHU will circulate details regarding the legislation as soon as this is made available to the SHU office by the Scottish Executive.

 

If I get any more information, I will obviously post it on this website.

[Guest]

i have just spoken to defra they have heard nothing of this ban. they have been thinking about it but as of yet have not imposed this ban. so who knows lol. the lady i spoke to had a look spoke to someone else and says she has not heard anything about it.

[Guest]

i have just spoken to defra they have heard nothing of this ban. they have been thinking about it but as of yet have not imposed this ban. so who knows lol. the lady i spoke to had a look spoke to someone else and says she has not heard anything about it.

[THE FIFER]

in today's papers it states a ban on the IMPORT of live birds, and thisdoes not include poultry for comercial purposes, i thought poultry was the cause of all this, but one question, WHO HAS PUT THIS BAN ON SHOWS AUCTIONS ETC IN THE UK

[Guest]

yeah the woman i spoke to said that a ban on imports is all she knows about so sorry rose i dont know if we have or not

[Guest]

yeah the woman i spoke to said that a ban on imports is all she knows about so sorry rose i dont know if we have or not

[THE FIFER]

well done doostalker cheers, good info, but going by things this ban on shows etc in in force now, but by whom.

[mealybar]

Yesterday whilst searching I found only the following from the EU:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/diseases/controlmeasures/avian/index_en.htm

 

The BBC ran the following stories:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/4375916.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4373584.stm

 

Still awaiting any further information today.

 

I note by its absence, nothing on the DEFRA website, and nothing specific about a ban on the EU website.

It doesnt surprise me that DEFRA have 'no knowlege' of the ban (Gez's phone call this morning).

 

In my opinion, nothing is in stone - as of yet.

[Guest]

confusing its doing my head in lol. i wonder did that email go in print in bhw?

[THE FIFER]

if we all keep talking this is banned and that, it will get put into force, still cannot see anything in todays news regarding the banning of shows etc in uk.all i can see is an IMPORT ban on live birds (NOT POULTRY FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES) funny one that eh

[Guest]

what we supposed to do. just sit back and pretend nothing is happening?

[mealybar]

Reply 277

I'm not sure if this has already be posted about (I havent seen it), but I found a link to Control Methods, in places it refers directly to pigeons.

 

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/ctrl-measures.htm#4

 

This article refers directly to a ban on fairs, markets and shows.

 

"Such gatherings are banned in the Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone during an AI outbreak in poultry."

 

"Possibility of applying PZ and SZ restrictions where there is an outbreak in captive birds or racing pigeons constituting a serious risk to poultry."

 

"We would try to encourage voluntary cancelling of fairs, markets and shows."

 

"Racing pigeons are a risk factor, which needs to be factored in, as they mix with wild birds."

 

My interpretation was that bans would be only in place for birds within the Zones of outbreaks; and even where outbreaks are, 'racing pigeons are a risk factor' - to me indicating that they are not a significant risk, but notable.

 

'as they mix with wild birds' - I wouldnt mind disputing that one; the birds that are shown, the majority will not have had access to the skys in preperation for the shows, if they get out at all.

[THE FIFER]

no gez but if there is a ban in the uk, who has put it forward, we only want to know what is going on, and is it correct,

[Guest]

exactly should that email have been sent out?

[THE FIFER]

mealybar does this mean there will be a ban in areas effected by the virus, the question most are confused about is IS THERE A BAN IN THE UK OF SHOWS AND AUCTIONS ETC

[Guest]

as far as defra are concered there is no ban. so i think ppl should just ignore the rumor about a ban until an OFFICIAL press release has been given

[THE FIFER]

cheers gez sensible coment, as we are only getting people mixed up with info without confermation from the right source, hope all works out,

[johnny11]

On the RPRA site the statement says ther IS a ban???? Confused

[Guest Doostalker]

Can I just point out that no one at the Scottish Executive has used the word "ban".

 

What is proposed is legislation within the week to have any event risk assessed and required to have a licence.

 

Rather than speculating, we need to wait now until the Scottish Executive and of course DEFRA put out details of what EXACTLY they propose. This should be within the week.