1. What is Avian Influenza (AI)?
2. What is the human risk?
3. What precautions should be taken when eating and preparing poultry / wild birds?
4. What should I do if I find dead bird(s)?
5. What if my dog finds a dead bird?
6. What EU legislation is in place for the control of avian influenza?
7. What are the current hunting restrictions?
8. Is it possible to recognise AI in wild birds?

1. What is Avian Influenza (AI)?
AI is a contagious viral disease which occurs in poultry and other birds, that is caused by several different types of Influenza A viruses. It is primarily a bird disease, although there have been rare cases of avian influenza viruses being transmitted from infected birds to other animals and to humans.
There are two main forms that are distinguished by low and high virulence. The low pathogenic (LPAI) form is usually without symptoms while the highly pathogenic (HPAI) form spreads more rapidly through flocks of poultry and cause highly mortality (90-100%).

2. What is the human risk?
The transmission of AI to humans occurs only on very rare occasions and the vast majority of AI viruses do not cause any disease in humans. However, occasionally a high pathogenic strain of AI can emerge which could have serious health consequences for humans, as is currently the case with the Asian strain of H5N1. It is important to note that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of AI to date, and humans affected by the disease have almost all had very close contact with infected poultry.

3. What precautions should be taken when eating and preparing poultry / wild birds?
In areas free of the disease, poultry and wild birds can be prepared and consumed as usual, with no fear of acquiring infection with the H5N1 virus.
In areas experiencing outbreaks, poultry and wild birds can also be safely consumed provided these items are properly cooked and properly handled during food preparation. The H5N1 virus is sensitive to heat. Normal temperatures used for cooking (70oC in all parts of the food) will kill the virus. Consumers need to be sure that all parts of the meat are fully cooked (no “pink” parts) and also that eggs are properly cooked (no “runny” yolks).
AI is not transmitted through cooked food. To date, no evidence indicates that anyone has become infected following the consumption of properly cooked poultry, poultry products or wild birds, even when these foods were contaminated with the H5N1 virus.
When cleaning and preparing wild bird game meat, it is always good practice to wear rubber or disposable latex gloves, wash hands with soap and water, and thoroughly clean knives, equipment and work surfaces.

4. What should I do if I find dead bird(s)?
If you find
• 1 or more dead wild swans, ducks or geese
• 3 or more dead wild birds of the same species
• 5 or more of different species in the same place
you should not touch or move the birds but contact the governmental body responsible for dealing with AI.

5. What if my dog finds a dead bird?
There is no evidence that any type of AI has passed from birds to dogs and the risk is thought to be extremely low. Cases of dog influenza have been recorded in the USA, but in these cases the virus is believed to have originated from horse influenza.

6. What EU legislation is in place for the control of avian influenza?
EU legislation on AI is laid down in Directive 92/40/EEC, and the new Directive 2005/94/EEC, which must be transposed by Member States by July 31, 2007. This legislation sets out rules on the surveillance, control and eradication measures that must be taken in the event of a HPAI outbreak. The new Directive also provides for the use of preventive vaccination against AI, under certain conditions and subject to specific requirements. The Avian Influenza Directive also gives the Commission full flexibility to take ad hoc measures in the case of an outbreak of AI, as it is impossible to provide for every possible scenario in framework legislation. Such measures must be agreed with Member States within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH), before they can be adopted by the Commission.

7. What are the current hunting restrictions?
Currently EU legislation prohibits “wild bird hunting” within 10 km of a case of HPAI discovered in wild birds. The same prohibition does not apply to outbreaks in domestic poultry.

8. Is it possible to recognise AI in wild birds?
Without laboratory testing it is difficult to recognise AI in wild birds, indeed there is recent evidence of asymptomatic infection in wild birds, where infected birds have been able to undertake normal movements and possibly migration. It may also be the case that if mortality occurs rapidly enough then symptoms will not be outwardly visible, where symptoms do exist, these can include; respiratory problems, diarrhoea (possibly whitish and/or signs of bleeding), uncoordinated movement, etc.