Bird Flu Update
Bird Flu or Avian Influenza has been found in wild birds recently. As a result of this an Avian Influenza Protection Zone is now in force which applies to everyone who keeps birds or poultry.
Anyone who finds dead wild birds should report them to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77
Reporting dead wild birds
Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find.
You should call the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77) if you find:
- one or more dead bird of prey or owl
- 3 or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks)
- 5 or more dead birds of any species
DEFRA then collect some of these birds and test them to help us understand how the disease is distributed geographically and in different types of bird.
Calls to the DEFRA helpline about dead wild birds are triaged and not all birds will be collected. The criteria for which birds are collected are adjusted to increase or decrease the sensitivity of surveillance.
Wild birds are susceptible to a range of diseases and injuries and not all dead birds will have been infected with avian influenza.