What effects is the UK seeing from the bird flu outbreak?
Over the past year, there have been multiple cases of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, in the United Kingdom. Therefore, starting on November 7, 2022, all birds must be housed in England in order to stop the virus from spreading. This order was issued by the UK Government.
The UK Government reports that since October 27, 2021, there have been 222 cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in England. Since October 1, 2022, alone, there have been 88 confirmed cases of HPAI H5N1 in England, as of November 3, 2022.
“The risk of kept birds being exposed to disease has reached a point where it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice,” said Christine Middlemiss, the chief veterinarian of the United Kingdom.
Kerry Maxwell, an author at the British Poultry Council, concurred with Middlemiss, saying that enforcing the housing rule is “very much the right thing to do.” Middlemiss further claimed that the mandatory housing measures are “the best way to protect your birds.” Furthermore, Maxwell revealed that there is broad industry agreement regarding the new regulation. “People are up for it,” she said.
Avian the influenza: what is it?
Is a virus that makes birds sick. Based on the degree of infection, the virus is divided into two groups: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), poultry can transmit both LPAI and HPAI quickly. The virus is disseminated by infected birds through their faeces, nasal secretions, and saliva. Consequently, when birds come into close contact with the virus’ shed form, they may contract the infection. When birds come into contact with surfaces tainted with the avian influenza virus, they may also become infected.
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The UK authority intervenes
While earlier bird housing directives in 2021 contributed to slowing the virus’s spread, other consequences included a shortage of free-range eggs in UK supermarkets.
Regulators guarantee that animals are housed indoors for a maximum of 16 weeks in order to label eggs as “free-range.” The most recent housing order doesn’t have a set expiration date, so this egg shortage might happen again.
Many Britons are already worried about their grocery shopping because the cost-of-living crisis is driving up food prices everywhere. Maxwell acknowledges that the industry will face challenges in the future when it comes to bird housing, even though she is unable to “crack out [her] crystal ball” and predict if there will be further shortages of eggs.