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Latest
news from DEFRA
Avian influenza (bird flu)
It is vital that all bird keepers in the UK continue to practice
the highest levels of biosecurity and be vigilant for any signs of
disease. If you are concerned about the health of your birds
you should seek advice from your veterinary surgeon. If you suspect
that your birds have avian influenza, you should report it to your
local
Animal Health Office immediately.
Guidance on handling and disposing of dead garden and wild
birds
The advice given here applies in all circumstances where members of
the public may come across a dead bird, regardless of whether there
is any avian influenza in the UK.
If you find dead wild gulls, waders, ducks, geese or swans and you
are within a
survey area or unsure whether you are in a surveillance area
you may wish to contact the Defra Helpline 08459 33 55 77,
8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday.
If you find die offs involving 10 or more dead birds of the same
species or from different species in the same place you should
contact the Defra Helpline 08459 33 55 77, 8.00am to 6.00pm
Monday to Friday.
If you find any single dead birds (or less than 10), including
garden birds then you do not need to call the Defra helpline. You
should:
· leave it alone,
or
· follow the
guidelines below for disposal
Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people
and some simple hygiene precautions should minimise the risk of
infection. It is hard for people to catch avian influenza from
birds and the following simple steps are also effective against
avian influenza.
If you have to move a dead bird:
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Avoid touching the bird with your bare hands
- If
possible, wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and
handling
-
Place the dead bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak
proof. Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the
bag
- Tie
the bag and place it in a second plastic bag
-
Remove gloves by turning them inside out and then place them in the
second plastic bag. Tie the bag and dispose of in the normal
household refuse bin.
-
Hands should then be washed thoroughly with soap and water
-
If disposable gloves are not available, a
plastic bag can be used as a make-shift glove. When the dead bird
has been picked up, the bag can be turned back on itself and tied.
It should then be placed in a second plastic bag, tied and disposed
of in the normal household waste
-
Alternatively, the dead bird can be buried, but not in a plastic
bag
- Any
clothing that has been in contact with the dead bird should be
washed using ordinary washing detergent at the temperature normally
used for washing the clothing.
- Any
contaminated indoor surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with
normal household cleaner.
For the latest news
and more information,
click here to visit
the DEFRA website: or you can call the Defra Helpline: 08459 33
55 77, 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday
Last updated 25th February 2008 - 10.00am
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