North Somerset Council has issued some simple guidelines
and advice in a bid to reassure any residents who are concerned
about Avian Influenza (bird flu).
The advice comes after the detection of bird flu in several
European countries.
No cases have been found in the UK.
The council, which has a contingency plan for dealing with an
outbreak within North Somerset, has issued the advice to keep local
residents, poultry keepers and businesses up to date with the
latest information.
No further advice will be given unless there is an outbreak in
the UK.
Bird flu is mainly spread by migrating waterfowl such as ducks,
geese and swans but it can affect any bird.
As a precaution, the Government's Department of Food,
Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) is testing any dead waterfowl
found. If you find any dead ducks, geese or swans please call the
Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77 as soon as possible. If the dead
bird has to be removed, please wear disposable gloves (or place
hands in a plastic bag) and then wrap in two plastic bags. Hands
should be washed with soap and water straight away.
The death of other birds is not a cause for concern unless many
birds die at the same time in the same place.
Bird flu does not pose a food safety risk in the UK. According
to leading food advice agencies, there is no health risk from
eating well cooked poultry meat or eggs. Further information is
available on the Food Standards Agency website
www.food.gov.uk or the World
Health Organisation website at
www.euro.who.int/healthtopics
Isolated cases of the virus in people are the result of close
contact with large numbers of infected birds and poor hygiene
measures. Further information about public health and bird flu is
available on the Health Protection Agency website at
www.hpa.org.uk
Residents or businesses keeping 50 or more domestic poultry
(chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese etc) or farmed game birds
(pheasants etc) must by law, register their flocks with Defra.
Please contact Defra on 0800 634 11 12 if you have not registered
your flock.
North Somerset Council is also encouraging the voluntary
registration of flocks of less than 50 domestic poultry. Anyone who
knows of any flocks being kept locally is asked to telephone the
council's Trading Standards Service on 01275 884773. General advice
about bird flu and poultry is available by calling the Defra
helpline on 08459 33 55 77.