Avian Influenza
NEWS
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This page was last updated on Monday, August 20, 2007
Wednesday, 8th March 2006
The Department of Food & Agriculture is keeping the situation under review, but for the time-being there is no plan to place any restrictions on the "hunting" of wild birds.
What is Avian Influenza?
Avian Influenza is also known as Avian 'Flu, Fowl Plague or Bird 'Flu.
There are several strains of the avian 'flu virus and these are normally relatively harmless. Occasionally, however, certain subtypes of the virus (such as H5 and H7) can mutate into highly pathogenic strains.
The current focus of attention is a highly pathogenic strain of the H5N1 virus. Since 2003, there have been 175 laboratory confirmed cases in the world at the time of writing, 95 of which have been fatal.
How does it spread?
According to the Department of Agriculture & Foods web site, wild birds - particularly water birds - are said to harbour the disease which can sometimes pass from these birds to domestic poultry.
However, BirdLife International's Chief Executive and others feel that the more attention should be focused on the poultry industry. While they say that it is far from proven that wild birds are responsible for the spread of the disease, the possibility cannot be ignored.
Where humans have been infected (and this is vary rare), the victims have been associated with close contact with infected poultry. Contact with wild birds has not been blamed for any infection of humans.
Will avian 'flu reach Ireland?
At the time of writing, the EU Commission has identified 15 wild bird species as being those that present a higher risk in relation to avian 'flu, of which the following 11 are of relevance to Ireland: (Eurasian) Widgeon, Gadwell, Teal , Mallard, (Northern) Pintail, (Northern) Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, (Northern) Lapwing, Black-headed Gull and the Common Gull.
The surveillance of poultry in Ireland since 1995 and wild birds since 2002 has not revealed any positive samples for highly pathogenic subtypes of the virus.
In the meantime, The Department is working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, BirdWatch Ireland and National Association of Regional Game Councils who are keeping an eye out for anything unusual in terms of dead birds.
The chances of the H5N1 virus actually reaching Ireland are still thought to be small, but possible. If it does reach Ireland, it is thought extremely unlikely that any humans will be infected.
Will shooting be affected?
The Department of Agriculture & Food has no plans to place any restrictions on the hunting of wild birds. Furthermore, they state that (in the event of an outbreak of avian 'flu in Ireland and in line with WHO & FAO recommendations) a cull of wild birds would not be carried out, as this could worsen the situation.
The European Union's COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2005/94/EC (of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC) offers the following definitions for poultry, wild birds and holdings:
- 4.‘poultry’ means all birds that are reared or kept in captivity for the production of meat or eggs for consumption, the production of other products, for restocking supplies of game birds or for the purposes of any breeding programme for the production of these categories of birds;
- 5.‘wild bird’ means a free-living bird which is not kept on any holding as defined in point 8;
- 8.‘holding’ means any agricultural or other premises, including hatcheries, circuses, zoos, pet bird shops, bird markets, and aviaries, where poultry or other captive birds are being bred or kept . However, this definition does not include slaughterhouses, means of transport, quarantine facilities and centres, border inspection posts and laboratories authorised by the competent authority to hold avian influenza virus;
The Directive is 50 pages long (and available here) but it seems to suggest that the only threat to shooting game at the moment would be with respect to the breeding of game or perhaps while keeping game in a release pen. Once pheasants, for example, are released they (presumably) stop being 'poultry' and become 'wild birds'.
The Department states that it does not see sense in carrying out a cull of wild birds in the event of an outbreak, mainly because it would only result in the dispersal of infected birds. So if there is an outbreak in your area, then this is probably where the greatest threat to shooting lies.
If you hold birds, you must be registered with the Department of Agriculture & Food.
Should I report a sick or dead bird to someone?
Seeing a dead or sick bird is not unusual in the wild, although we may all have second thoughts at the moment because of the media attention given to avian 'flu! If however there are a number of dead birds in the same place, then the Local District Veterinary Office of the Department of Agriculture should be contacted.
The Department have also set up a hotline for anyone who wants to report dead birds on 1890 252 283.
Is poultry safe to eat?
In a word, yes.
As always, poultry should be properly cooked.
Links
- The Department of Agriculture & Food's web site (www.agriculture.gov.ie) has information on avian influenza and a helpline.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation's Animal Production& Health Division has an informative and up to date web site which covers the world-wide perspectives of Avian Influenza. See http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avian.html
See also: