At last week’s Poultry.Network Conference 2024, attendees heard from Gordon Hickman, Head of Exotic Disease at Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
Focussing on the current status of avian influenza (AI), and the challenges posed by the disease he reminded delegates that: “up until the late 2018s or so, avian influenza was just a sporadic disease.” This was a stark reminder of how quickly AI case numbers exploded in the years that followed.
Consequently, whilst the UK self-declared as free from bird flu in March of this year, Hickman stressed this is not a status that could be expected to last so the industry must remain vigilant.
Multi-species impacts of avian influenza
He pointed out that, in the three-year period including the 2023 season, around 8.8 million birds died or were culled as a result of outbreaks, with some sectors hit particularly hard.
The 2023 season started “much, much earlier than usual” leading to many more turkeys, geese and free-range ducks on the ground than when avian influenza (AI) normally strikes. Therefore, as a proportion of the national flock size, these farmers and breeders were hit hardest.
Wildbird infections
Hickman showed the direct correlation between AI case numbers in wild birds and domestic poultry with: “rises in poultry cases generally follow[ing] wild bird events.”
Closer inspection of data showed that: “we had virtually no cases of farm-to-farm spread”, and that they were mostly: “separate incursions direct from wild birds, or indirectly from infected litter that had been infected by wild birds or fomite spread.”
Taking proactive action against wild bird incursion is vital in the fight against disease and you can keep up to date with wild bird AI cases and infection pressure with Livetec’s wild bird case tracker on the Livetec Systems App. Download the app here.
Connecting with backyard keepers
Hickman also highlighted other areas of concern for authorities.
In particular, whilst the majority of AI cases were in commercial units: “still 20 to 25% are in non-commercial backyard flocks.” This, he acknowledged, is “one of the reasons why we brought in mandatory registration for all kept birds” making it easier to communicate key disease information and education messaging, especially in the fight against ‘fake news’.
Importance of biosecurity
For Hickman, the key to protect against disease outbreaks and prevent viruses spilling over from wild birds into domestic flocks, is biosecurity: “Our job collectively is to make sure that those biosecurity levels are as high as they can be” and that the industry must not get complacent about the lower infection levels seen this year: “we’ve just got to keep those levels of biosecurity high.”
Read more about how Livetec can help with your biosecurity here.
Having a contingency plan
He pointed out that whilst improved biosecurity massively reduces the chance of infection, it cannot eradicate it, so it’s vital to put contingency plans in place:
“I would urge you all to do [contingency] planning…it minimises the impact…keep those records, don’t let your guard down.”
Referencing Livetec as a key industry partner in preparing for the next outbreak, particularly in the field of emergency response, he emphasised that the whole industry “really needs to work together” for the security for all.
Livetec: the trusted biosecurity partner
Livetec’s range of Contingency Plans have been specifically designed to help poultry businesses prepare for the event of a disease outbreak.
Covering first steps after disease is suspected to re-stocking, they provide an invaluable step-by-step action guide, reducing stress and uncertainty in the most challenging of circumstances.
To find out how we can help you with your and protect your birds, contact one of our advisors here.
