What is avian flu? |
Avian flu is also known as bird flu. Just like humans, birds are susceptible to flu, and there are 15 different types of avian flu.
The types which are most easily caught, and are usually fatal in birds, are H5 and H7.
The type currently causing concern is the H5N1 strain, which can prove fatal to humans.
Migratory wildfowl such as wild ducks are natural carriers of the virus, but are unlikely to actually develop an infection.
The risk is that they could pass it on to domestic birds, which are much more likely to catch the virus.
Bird flu does not pose a threat to humans as it cannot pass easily from one person to another. Experts have said that avian flu is not a food-borne virus, so eating poultry is safe.
If you wish to find out further information please visit the Defra web site
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Kirklees Council press release (May 2, 2006) |
Adapted from a press release on May 2, 2006
Kirklees Council is calling on all poultry keepers to register their birds as part of a national scheme aimed at tackling avian flu.
Kirklees and other West Yorkshire councils are backing the call from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
for all poultry keepers to register their poultry flocks on the Great Britain Poultry Register.
This register will be an essential part of controlling avian flu.
Local authorities are helping DEFRA to make sure that controls on poultry keeping and movements are effective. The aim is to reduce the disease to
a minimum, and to let all poultry keepers know what they must do.
Regulations that came in on December 9, 2005 require those who own or are responsible for 50 or more poultry at
commercial poultry premises to give their details to DEFRA.
Crucially, people with flocks below 50 birds, or who have non-commercial flocks, can register voluntarily.
More than 17,000 registrations have been received by DEFRA so far but Kirklees Council wants to ensure that
all poultry keepers in its area have the opportunity to register their flocks.
Cllr Ann Denham, Kirklees Cabinet member for the Environment, said: "People who keep birds should not panic, but it is sensible to plan ahead.
"An essential part of controlling any avian influenza in our area will be to help and advise poultry keepers on how to comply with any controls put in place.
If they are registered with DEFRA, even if they only have a small flock, we can make sure they get that help quickly."
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Registering your poultry |
To register your poultry please either visit the DEFRA web site
or ring their helpline: 08459 335577.
In addition, Kirklees Environmental Services would like to keep all local poultry keepers informed of the current avian flu situation.
Please phone them on 01484 226452 to register your flock and receive regular updates.
Poultry keepers can also get information from the DEFRA website on what they can do to protect their birds,
including making preparations to keep their birds indoors away from wild birds - particularly wild fowl.
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