Avian Influenza (bird flu)

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.

1. Avoid touching the bird with your bare hands
   
   
2. If possible, wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling (if disposable gloves are not available see 7)
   
   
3. Place the dead bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak-proof. Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag
   
   
4. Tie the bag and place it inside a second plastic bag
   
   
5. 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
   
   
6. Hands should then be washed thoroughly with soap and water
   
   
7. 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 refuse bin
   
   
8. Alternatively, the dead bird can be buried, but not in the plastic bag
   
   
9. 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
   
   
10. Any contaminated indoor surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with normal household cleaner

Update 31 October 2022

Unfortunately a number of geese have been reported to have died near the point of Ayre in the last week. Samples were taken and the results indicate that the birds have died from high pathogenic avian influenza.

Two dead rooks were collected by the animal health team from near Bride on 12 October 2022, one of which has tested positive for high pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. Also two dead gulls were collected by the animal health team from Fleshwick beach on 13 October 2022 and both have tested positive for high pathogenic H5 avian influenza. Please see below for details of other cases on the Isle of Man in 2022.

DEFA are strongly advising that bird keepers should remain vigilant by practicing good biosecurity and they should reduce any contact wild birds may have with kept birds. If you are concerned your kept birds may have avian influenza please contact the Animal Health Team (contact details below).

Avian Influenza is widespread in the UK with the number of cases increasing as winter approaches. See the UK website for latest updates on Avian Influenza.

Update 15 August 2022 

A buzzard found in the river in Glen Maye on the 10th August 2022 has tested positive for High Pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), this is the second bird of prey to test positive (a peregrine falcon found in Ramsey road Peel on Monday 8th August 2022 also tested positive). A dead gannet, which was collected by DEFA officers, from Spaldrick beach (port Erin) on Monday 8 August 2022 has tested positive for HPAI.

Update 22 July 2022 - HPAI Confirmed in sea birds from beaches on the west of the Island

DEFA have had a number of reports of dead sea birds on the beaches on the west of the Island. Officers have collected a number of dead birds and samples were taken. The results have come back and a number of the birds tested positive for H5N1 high pathogenic avian influenza.

Winter 2021/2022 Isle of Man

Following confirmation of H5N1 High Pathogenic avian influenza in kept birds at a premises near Sulby on the 16 January 2022, all kept birds on the infected premises have been humanely killed. Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance within the zone place around the premises the 1km Protection zone ended on the 11 February 2022. The whole Island remind under a Surveillance Zone but as of 15.00 20 February 2022 the Surveillance Zone was cancelled. 

Two cases in wild birds were also detected on the Isle of Man, one in a dead wild goose on Tuesday 1 February 2022 near St John’s. On the 17th January 2022 and a second case of H5N1 High Pathogenic avian influenza was also detected in feral chickens in Tholt-y-will. 

See UK Government website for the most up to date information.

Avian influenza is unconnected with coronavirus (COVID-19)

Avian influenza spreads largely due to the seasonal movements of migratory wild birds on their normal flight paths across Europe from the east to warmer places in Southern Europe and Northern Africa for overwintering. The main risk to poultry is from infected wild birds. Poultry are often more severely affected than wild birds; the disease in poultry is often debilitating and rapidly fatal. Wild birds may show minimal or no symptoms.

Avian influenza can be Highly Pathogenic (HPAI) or Low Pathogenicity (LPAI). HPAI is the more severe form of the disease.

Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect any type of avian influenza in poultry or captive birds you must report it immediately by contacting DEFA Animal Health. Failure to do so is an offence.

Animal Health Team – Regulation Directorate

Telephone:+44 1624 685844
Email: Send Email

How to spot avian influenza.

The UK health security agency has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to human health is very low. The Food Standards Agency has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

Good biosecurity is vital. Many diseases, not only Avian Influenza but also others like Newcastle Disease, Salmonella and Campylobacter are spread by direct bird-to-bird contact through secretions and faeces, and indirectly through contaminated feed, water, equipment, boots etc. If in doubt about what to do, seek advice from your vet.

Biosecurity advice

High standards of biosecurity should be maintained as good practice for the health of your birds. Good biosecurity is an essential defence against diseases such as avian influenza and is key to limiting the spread of avian influenza in an outbreak.

Whether an outbreak of avian influenza occurs in pet birds, a backyard flock, captive birds of prey, pigeons or a commercial flock the same disease control advice applies and the same impacts on bird keepers and trade in poultry occurs.

• keep free-ranging birds in fenced areas to minimise contact with wild birds, neighbouring poultry or captive birds
  
  
• inspect outdoor areas, removing wild bird contaminants like faeces, feathers and wild bird carcases
  
  
• fence off or put netting over areas of standing water or ponds
  
  
• provide feed and water undercover, so wild birds can’t access it
  
  
• make your premises unattractive to wild birds. Use bird scarers, foils or streamers
  
  
• keep ducks and geese separate from other poultry
  
  
• store bedding under cover to reduce the risk of contamination
  
  
• clean and disinfect footwear before and after tending to your birds. If you own more than 50 birds, place foot dips containing government approved disinfectant at all entry and exit points
  
  
• clean and disinfect hard surfaces regularly
  
  
• clean and disinfect equipment and vehicles to avoid disease spread between premises
  
  
• minimise the movement of people, vehicles and equipment to and from bird areas and keep records of movements
  
  
• keep records of poultry, captive bird and egg movements
  
  
• maintain buildings that house birds to prevent water ingress
  
  
• ensure pest control is effective

For the latest Defra information, see Avian Influenza (bird flu) biosecurity (gov.uk).  

There have been no new restrictions introduced because of the avian influenza outbreak with regards to shooting of birds, or consuming wild birds.

The information regarding any new restrictions are available on this webpage but please note the situation is evolving, we aim to keep our webpage up to date with any new restrictions.

General advice about shooting and consuming wild birds

Consuming wild birds, as long as the meat is well cooked is very low risk to human health.

Anyone attending a shoot should follow good personal biosecurity and should regularly cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear and vehicles – this is particularly important if they have any contact with game birds, poultry or other captive birds. There is, however, a possibility – albeit remote - that wild birds shot or culled in pest and predator control could be infected with bird flu at any time of the year, so it clearly makes sense to avoid actions that could spread infection from killed wild birds into any kept birds, whatever their species. Do not use the same vehicles and storage facilities for shot and live birds without thorough cleansing and disinfection in between. Keep all shot or culled birds well away from any kept flocks. Likewise, wash or sanitise hands and wash clothing well after handling dead birds and before any contact with kept flocks to minimise spreading infection.