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Jersey birdkeepers have been put on alert as concerns about highly infectious avian flu hitting the island continue to grow.
According to the island's Chief Vet, live bird importations and egg hatching licences could be halted in Jersey if the risk of avian flu hitting local poultry hits an “unacceptable level”.
The UK Government announced strict legal measures for birdkeepers to protect their flocks last week after a number of avian influenza cases were discovered across Great Britain.
It emerged this afternoon that birds at a premises in Warwickshire were among those to be struck by the highly infectious H5N1 strain.
They will now have to be humanely killed, while a 3km ‘protection zone’ and 10km ‘surveillance zone’ have been declared around the area.
No cases have been reported in Jersey, but the Chief Veterinary Officer says the island may have to tighten rules if the situation worsens.
“While there are no known cases of bird flu in Jersey, we are advising poultry keepers to take increased measures to help protect their birds from infection,” Alastair Breed explained.
“This includes, among other steps, minimising the contact poultry has with wild birds and wild bird droppings, and owners disinfecting footwear before and after being in bird enclosures.
“The UK Health Security Agency has said that Avian Influenza is primarily a disease of birds, and Public Health England advises that the risk to public health is low. The Food Standards Agency says, on the basis of current scientific evidence, Avian Influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.
“The issuing of all import poultry and hatching egg licences for Jersey is under review. If the risk rises to an unacceptable level then importations will be suspended.”
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