Bird flu suspected at St.Peter farm

Monday 15 August 2022

Poultry owners in Jersey are being warned to keep their birds carefully housed, following the discovery of a suspected case of bird flu this weekend.

Officials are currently waiting on the test results before confirming, but they "strongly suspect" bird flu, following deaths at a farm in St. Peter.

Director of Natural Environment, Willie Peggie, said: “On examining the dead poultry, the clinical signs of the swelling of the head, blue discolouration of the comb and wattles, and the fact that the poultry appeared fine the previous day but mass mortalities were found the following morning, strongly suggests bird flu. Samples have been sent to the UK for testing, and we hope to have the results back this week.

“While we await the findings, all poultry are required to be housed, if at all possible, as there needs to be clear separation from wild birds. There also needs to be a solid or impermeable roof overhead so that wild bird faeces cannot enter their housing or runs. Stringent biosecurity measures are required, including the use of DEFRA approved disinfectant baths for footwear at the entrance to flock units.

“We ask keepers to please prepare for mandatory housing restrictions that we’ll need to bring in if a positive result is confirmed within a domestic flock.”

The UK Health Security Agency has said avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and advises that the risk to public health from bird flu is low.