Gwefan llywodraeth y DU

Bird flu

The Department of Health (DH) has drawn up public health advice which will help protect you if you are going to or returning from a bird flu-affected area.

Defra advises the following steps if you find a dead bird:

• don’t handle the dead bird
• report a dead bird to the Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77
• provide as much information as you can about what you've seen so the veterinary service can make an initial assessment

You are only advised to handle dead birds if you have been trained to handle dead or live animals already. If you have had some form of training and have the right equipment, follow these guidelines:

• wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling the carcass (not latex)
• if you need to transport a carcass, place it inside two sealed waterproof plastic bags to prevent leakage
• place the bag on a plastic sheet if you put it in your car
• wash hands, nails and forearms thoroughly with soap and water after handling
• clean any contaminated clothing and parts of your vehicle with soap or disinfectant
• don’t put dead birds in the freezer
• don’t leave dead birds lying around
• keep children away from dead birds

If you work with birds, check the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website for advice.

• Avian flu - information on NHS Choices Opens new window

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is an infectious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, in particular:

• cattle
• sheep
• pigs
• goats
• deer

FMD is not normally fatal to adult animals, but it is debilitating and causes significant loss of productivity, for example:

• milk yields may drop
• animals may become lame
• in young animals it can be fatal on a large scale

Advice from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is that FMD is not a direct public health threat. The Food Standards Agency considers that FMD has no implications for the human food chain.

Recent cases of FMD include:

• September 2007 - FMD was confirmed at a farm in Surrey
• August 2007 - FMD was found in samples from cattle on a Guildford farm, Surrey

Farmers who suspect FMD in any of their animals should contact their Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) as soon as possible by contacting their local Animal Health Divisional Office. To find the telephone number of the local office either visit the Animal Health Divisional Offices' website or call the Defra helpline (08459 33 55 77).

• Defra Animal health and welfare information Opens new window

Animal diseases and government planning

Defra is the lead department for animal diseases, including FMD. Responsiblity for FMD lies with the devolved administrations, working closely with Defra:

• Scottish Government
• Welsh Assembly Government
• Northern Ireland departments

Defra's revised Contingency Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases was put before Parliament on 13 December 2006. The plan, produced for Defra by the State Veterinary Service, covers arrangements for response to an outbreak of :

• Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
• Avian Influenza (AI)
• Newcastle Disease (ND)
• Classical Swine Fever (CSF)
• African Swine Fever (ASF)
• Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD).

Defra's FMD Emergency Vaccination Protocol outlines the factors that would need to be considered in the decision to use emergency vaccination. Defra have produced an FMD Disease Control Policy Communications Strategy aimed at planning for communications in advance of, and during, an FMD outbreak by contributing an 'emergency vaccination' element for inclusion in department's Contingency Plan.

• Defra - foot and mouth disease Opens new window

• Defra - plant health Opens new window