Avian Influenza Virus

What do we do to prevent, if possible, our birds catching AIV in the future? This particular damaging virus may not hit us for many years. It is only when it is brought over already mutated or just hits particular respiratory strains that turns it into a killer, as experienced when it hit Holland. Such a likelihood could occur from mutating with partially vaccinated birds with the NC virus as advocated by the PC of GB. When will they take advice from a qualified and experienced poultry vet?

For the first four months of each year all outdoor birds should be kept inside their houses to prevent any cross infection during the arrival of infected waterfowl. I appreciate that this is not always possible or practical, but it is the best way to ensure the safety of one’s birds. Such bio security measures as foot dips are really pathetic and will not in any way prevent any disease from walking unless these same dips are replaced every second person. If you have visitors ensure they do not go near your birds unless they disinfect their Wellingtons first. Do not allow any farming specialists or RSPCA officers near your stock unless they carry out the same precautions as all vets do. Dress up in rubber and disinfect before and after the visit.

Avoid bringing back birds during the dangerous months, ie do not buy in birds. I know this may affect the late winter sales, but so be it. Personally I shall be very unpopular to even suggest that no shows should be held during the first four months of the year, but it would be sensible to have such a restriction, after all, it is the main breeding period so it should not be that difficult, as there are eight months left in the year to exhibit.

Show organisers could help considerably by ensuring that all drinking water is laced with Vanodine or an equally effective substance. Remember that is one of the main reasons why Mycoplasma has spread so quickly throughout the country. Sensible attention to detail will benefit all, far better than such inaccurate and lukewarm methods set out on the DEFRA website.

For fairly obvious reasons only free range flocks will be tested in a new survey. It is likely that the selection of the units to be sampled will be from the new Registration of Establishments database and is a clear indication of how this may be used in future. Ten birds per holding will be tested but, it is disappointing to note, only commercial units will be tested, with no backyard flocks or wild birds included in the survey. Only birds close to slaughter stage are to be tested.

There is, as yet, no declaration on the part of DEFRA, as to what action would be taken in the event of positives being identified. There are many unsatisfactory parts to those proposals which need to be clarified before any testing is started, including, not least, the effect on other untested flocks on the same holding and, importantly, contiguous units

An extract from POULTRY TALK by David Bland

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