Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to (a) strengthen surveillance, testing and carcass collection and (b) put in place (i) disturbance minimisation and (ii) biosecurity measures in preparation for any future outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in the UK.

Defra’s objective in tackling any outbreak of avian influenza is to eradicate the disease as quickly as possible from the UK poultry and captive-bird population and regain UK World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) disease-free status. Defra’s approach is set out in the Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain. Swift and humane culling of birds on infected premises coupled with good biosecurity aims to prevent the amplification of avian influenza and subsequent environmental contamination and to reduce the risk of disease spread from infected premises. Current policy is in line with international standards of best practice for disease control. It reflects our experience of responding to past outbreaks of exotic animal disease.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has a robust programme of wild bird surveillance and engages in year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds submitted via public reports and warden patrols. Between 5 October 2021 and 30 May 2022 over 2,570 wild birds have been tested. Of these, 1,085 have tested positive for H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza. There have been findings in 291 different locations in 50 different species in 77 different counties.

For further details of wild bird findings see the report (updated weekly) of findings of HPAI in wild birds in Great Britain and our outbreak assessments.

Avian influenza experts from APHA conduct testing at our national reference laboratory. All diagnostic testing is conducted in line with WOAH standards as set out for Avian Influenza in the OIE Terrestrial Manual. Initial results can be reported within several hours of samples arriving at the reference laboratory.

Dealing with disturbance issues is very site and species specific. Many of the wild bird populations at risk of avian influenza use sites protected for their bird interest in breeding and/or non-breeding seasons (e.g. as Special Protection Areas). Often these sites will already have site managers and wardens responsible for ensuring that disturbance is not a significant issue for the bird features. The Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds makes some recommendations about disturbance in its January 2022 statement.

Our biosecurity guidance and biosecurity self-assessment checklist contain further details of the measures all bird keepers must continue to take to protect their birds from avian influenza. Even when an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) is not in force, we recommend keepers continue to follow these biosecurity measures to protect their birds. An AIPZ makes it a legal requirement for bird keepers (whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to reduce the risk of transmission of avian influenza to poultry and other captive birds from wild birds or any other source.

The UK has robust biosecurity measures in place to prevent avian influenza spreading, and a strong track record of controlling and eliminating outbreaks in the UK. The Government is clear that all operational livestock premises should implement strong biosecurity measures and report suspected disease immediately – and the Government and its delivery agencies continue to work closely with industry to ensure good flock management and husbandry practices are implemented on all farms regardless of size or scale.

We continue to monitor the current situation both in Europe and globally, as well as the effectiveness of any disease control measures taken. Any future decisions on disease control measures will be based upon the latest scientific, ornithological, and veterinary advice.