UK bans bird markets, fairs as avian flu spreads

UK bans bird markets, fairs as avian flu spreads

UK bans bird markets, fairs as avian flu spreads
The UK government announced on Friday an imminent ban in England on bird gatherings, including fairs, markets, and shows, in a bid to curb the spread of a highly contagious avian influenza.

From midday on Monday, bird gatherings… are banned in England. This includes ducks, geese, swans, pheasants, partridges, quails, chickens, turkeys, and guinea fowl, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said in a statement.

The ban follows the spread of the virus across multiple areas.
The UK government defines bird gatherings as events such as fairs, markets, shows, sales, exhibitions, and certain premises used for trading or online sales

Vehicles transporting live birds from multiple locations are also classified as gatherings.

So far, there have been 27 confirmed cases of bird flu in England and one in Scotland during the latest outbreak.

Last week, affected poultry were discovered at a commercial farm in Norfolk, eastern England, leading to the culling of the birds.
The virus spreads through droppings, saliva, and contaminated food or water.

Currently, vaccinations against bird flu are not permitted in the UK, except in zoos.

However, several farming organisations have called on the government to lift restrictions and allow vaccinations.

So far, health authorities have reported only one rare case of bird flu in a human during the latest outbreak, stating that “the risk to the general public’s health is very low.”

However, concerns among farmers are rising over the potential spread of the disease.

AFP