Team Blitz India
With effect from March 29, the United Kingdom has self-declared freedom from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) for Great Britain, according to a Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Affairs statement. The declaration has been reviewed and published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Northern Ireland declared freedom from bird flu on 31 March 2023.
The UK faced its largest ever outbreak of bird flu with over 360 cases confirmed across the country since late October 2021. There have been no recent cases of avian influenza in kept birds with the last case confirmed on February 14. However, HPAI H5N1 continues to be found at low levels in wild birds in Great Britain and across Europe with outbreaks occurring in poultry and other captive birds in several countries in Europe.
The department statement has advised keepers to remain vigilant and practice stringent biosecurity to protect the health and welfare of their birds. Any type of avian influenza in poultry or captive birds must be immediately reported As per UK Health Security Agency advice, evidence suggests viruses currently circulating in birds in the country do not spread easily to people and food standards bodies advise that avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for consumers. There is no impact on the consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs, it further said.
