District Council Advises On ‘Bird Flu’

FOLLOWING the news today that two people have died from Avian ‘flu in China, local people have been seeking official advice and information about what precaution should be taken in this country to avoid an outbreak. (photo of avian flu virus copyright of Vietnam.net www.vnn.net)
South Oxfordshire District Council’s advice on its website says:
“Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease affecting many species of birds, including commercial, wild and pet birds. Recent outbreaks of a new form of the virus, H5N1, have arisen in the Far East and more recently in Eastern Europe. However, the risk of introduction of this bird disease to the United Kingdom remains low.

“All people that keep poultry and other domestic birds should remain vigilant for signs of the disease and all keepers should maintain a high level of biosecurity to reduce the risk of introducing the disease.

For further guidance and advice on control measures and the latest health advise (including very useful frequently asked questions link, visit the Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Link

A very useful Frequently Asked Questions section on the Environmental Health Agency’s website can be found at:
Link