Latest news with #AvianInfluenza
BBC News
14-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Royal swan count begins after species decline
The annual census of swans on the River Thames is set to begin on Monday. Swan Upping will start in Sunbury Lock and finish at Abingdon Bridge in Oxfordshire on 18 July. The historic event, which dates back to the 12th century, happens every year with ceremonially dressed teams of rowers going up the river. Only 86 young swans were found during 2024's Swan Upping - representing a 45% decline in two years. David Barber, the King's Swan Marker, blamed the downturn in cygnet numbers primarily on outbreaks of Avian Influenza (bird flu). "Fortunately, there has been a decrease in reported cases of the disease in the River Thames area in recent months," he said. Young swans are weighed and measured by Mr Barber, who wears a feather in his cap, to make growth estimates, while cygnets and adult swans are examined for disease or injury. Mr Barber: "Sadly, issues of vandalism and cruelty continue to cause distressing and often fatal injuries to swans and young cygnets."Dogs that are not under control also pose a significant risk of harm and death when in the vicinity of breeding swans and their young cygnets."Last year's Swan Upping found swans had been shot at by catapults and airguns. Pollution was another problem, with some swans being found covered in engine Barber urged people to be aware of nesting environments when walking beside rivers. Swan upping started as a way of counting the birds that were valuable property - with any unmarked mute swans being Crown property.
Irish Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Warning to public after strain of bird flu detected in Ireland
A warning has been issued to the public after a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza was detected in multiple wild birds found along Ireland's west coast in recent weeks The Department of Agriculture issued a statement to the public on Thursday, warning that the H5N1 strain of avian influenza is currently circulating in wild birds, especially in breeding seabirds around Ireland. Over the last three weeks in particular, including following intensive surveillance by NPWS, and reports from others, there have been a number of cases of groups of dead wild sea birds washing up on shorelines in counties Kerry, Clare and Galway. A number have been tested by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, and gulls and Guillemot have so far been confirmed with HPAI; and many multiples of that are likely to have HPAI. In total, 25 wild birds have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2025 so far. Avian Influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a notifiable animal disease and is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous system of many species of birds. It can also pose a threat to people and other animals in certain circumstances, but these types of infections are rare. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, and the HSE, have advised: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine carries out year round avian influenza surveillance sampling. In areas where HPAI has already been confirmed, it may not be necessary to collect further birds for sampling. The avian influenza virus is very contagious amongst birds and can survive for several weeks in the environment. The faeces of infected birds contains a high level of virus and so the area can remain infective irrespective of whether bird carcasses are removed from an area or not. It is not deemed appropriate for public amenity reasons to remove dead birds or to display signage, etc. e.g. on beaches or areas with frequent human footfall, it is a matter for the Local Authority. Over the past number of months, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has been undertaking intensive monitoring and surveillance with a nationwide network of regional staff, collecting information on seabirds from coastlines, key colonies and elsewhere across the island. The situation is being monitored intensively and any suspected cases reported to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine for testing. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has responsibly for avian influenza testing in Ireland. NPWS is already providing expert advice to DAFM in relation to HPAI and cases in wild birds.
The Irish Sun
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
‘Do not touch' – Health alert issued over seagulls & other wild sea birds as pet owners urged to ‘keep dogs on lead'
HEALTH chiefs have warned of the danger of touching sick or dead wild birds - over risks of bird flu. In recent weeks, groups of dead wild sea birds have been discovered off the west coast of Ireland. 4 A strain of Avian Influenza is circulating in sea birds Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire 4 The cases of bird flu detected in wild birds following surveillance testing Credit: The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said avian influenza is a type of influenza that mainly affects wild But it can also occasionally infect some mammals and humans. Officials at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine warned of the disease today. They said: 'Avian Influenza Bird flu is circulating in sea birds. READ MORE ON HEALTH NEWS 'Do not pick up or touch sick or dead wild birds, and keep your pets away from them. 'If you find a sick or dead wild bird, you can report it using the Avian Influenza Wild Bird reporting The While there are many strains of HPAI viruses, the H5N1 virus is considered the 'most serious' for both birds and humans. Most read in Health There have been almost 1,000 human cases of H5N1, half of whom have died, since 2003. The HSPC said it is 'very unusual' for people to catch bird flu but it can happen. They said: 'Currently, it is hard to catch avian influenza from a bird or animal, and there is no evidence that it can be passed between people, but if the virus mutates (changes) this may happen in the future.' HSPC Advice Why it's important to prevent people getting H5N1: It can - rarely - produce serious disease in people Mixing of avian influenza and seasonal flu in a person could allow the virus to mutate and become better at spreading between people If a person is infected with HPAI, it could be passed from people to Irish poultry flocks leading to severe disease among birds. Minister for Agriculture Martin Heyden told He said: "In the past three weeks, there have been a number of reports of groups of dead wild sea birds washing up on shorelines in counties Kerry, Clare and Galway. "In two instances, a wild sea bird which washed up on a beach tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza virus, with one case in Kerry and one in Galway." If a person picks up or handles infected, sick or dead wild birds, they will be monitored for a period of 10 days. They may be offered antiviral medication and vaccination if they are considered to be at risk. 4 The public is being urged to report any sick or dead wild birds Credit: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 4 Minister Heydon said flocks of dead birds were found in Kerry, Clare and Galway Credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Goa zoo reopens after bird flu outbreak
Shut down for nearly three months due to a bird flu scare, Goa's only zoological park opened for visitors on Wednesday. The zoo, located inside the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, was closed on April 1 after three civets and two jungle cats died following a viral outbreak in the second week of March. Subsequently, authorities implemented precautionary measures, including isolating the affected enclosures, and restricted public access. The Forest department sent samples to ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal for testing. Forest department officials said the lab reports confirmed that the two jungle cats died due to avian influenza while the cause of deaths for the civets remained unknown. An order issued by Jiss K Varkey, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Wildlife and Eco-Tourism North Division on Wednesday, said, 'Consequent upon receipt of two consecutive negative test results for Avian influenza from ICAR-NIHSAD Bhopal and in accordance with the guidelines of Central Zoo Authority, it is hereby ordered that the Bondla Zoological Park will be open for visitors with immediate effect.' In a post on X, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane announced that the zoo has been reopened. 'After a brief closure as a precautionary measure, Bondla Zoo has now reopened to visitors starting Wednesday, following confirmation that the samples tested negative for Avian Influenza by NIHSAD, Bhopal. The Forest Department of Goa, acted promptly and responsibly to ensure the health and safety of both animals and visitors.' Rane said all necessary biosecurity protocols were followed during this period. Officials said that according to the protocols of Central Zoo Authority, the zoo could only reopen after two consecutive negative test reports for avian influenza were received. Kamal Datta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said, 'As soon as information was received about the possibility of the virus, the forest department took proactive action by closing the zoo immediately and sanitising the affected enclosures and taking other precautionary measures. Due to this, the spread of the virus to areas outside the zoo was prevented.'
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Urgent call to reopen poultry imports amid supply crisis
The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has urged the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to immediately resume poultry imports from countries that have declared themselves free of Avian Influenza, in line with World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has urged the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to immediately resume poultry imports from countries that have declared themselves free of Avian Influenza, in line with World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. These countries include France (February 4, 2025), Sweden (March 31, 2025), and both Denmark and Belgium (May 23, 2025). The last recorded imports from Denmark were in 2020, when South Africa imported an average of 1 384 metric tons of poultry products per month, including both poultry cuts and mechanically deboned meat (MDM). AMIE on Wednesday also welcomed the Department of Agriculture's commitment to make a determination on a partial lifting of the Brazilian import suspension by the end of this week. This would be based on the fact that the Avian Flu outbreak is contained to the Rio Grande do Sol province in Brazil. Brazilian imports are currently halted due to the Avian Influenza outbreak in Rio Grande do Sol, which produces between 10% to 15% of all poultry in that country. Since local producers are unable to meet total demand, particularly for poultry offal and MDM, which South Africa does not produce at scale, it is critical to diversify supply sources to ensure continued affordability, availability, and market stability, it said. Imameleng Mothebe, the CEO of AMIE, said: 'Opening access to each additional AI-free market will help alleviate some of the current poultry supply gap and reduce the growing economic and food security risks created by the current overall suspension of imports from Brazil. Even with a partial lifting of the suspension of imports from Brazil, there will still be a shortfall that will need to be filled in order to maintain consumption demand in our country. Opening additional markets not only fills this gap, but also future proofs South Africa against AI-related supply shortages.' South African Meat Processors Association urged the government to implement zoning (regionalisation) with all haste. "One of our members, Sky Country Meats, has already been forced to lay off almost 100 employees, with more retrenchments to follow next week if imports of MDM are not restored as a matter of absolute urgency," it said.
