Avian Flu
There is no need for public health concern. Avian Influenza is a disease of birds and whilst it can pass very rarely and with difficulty, to humans, this requires extremely close contact with infected birds, particularly faeces.
Advice from the Food Standards Agency remains that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
Guidance on handling and disposing of dead garden and wild birds
The advice given here applies in all circumstances where members of the public may come across a dead bird.
If you find a dead swan, goose or duck, or three or more dead wild, or garden birds together, in the same place, please report this to Defra, via the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77. The current Defra helpline opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday 6.00am to 10.00pm
- Saturday and Sunday 6.00am to 10.00pm
They may wish to have the birds examined for signs of specific diseases. They will advise you on what action you should take.
If the dead bird is a single, small garden or wild bird then you do not need to call Defra.
You should:
- leave it alone, or
- follow the guidelines below for disposal
People should follow some simple hygiene precautions which should minimise the risk of infection. It is hard for people to catch avian influenza from birds and the following steps are also effective against avian influenza.
If you have to move a dead bird
- Avoid touching the bird with your bare hands
- If possible, wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling
- Place the dead bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leakproof. Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag.
- Tie the bag and place it in a second plastic bag
- Remove gloves by turning them inside out and then place them in the second plastic bag. Tie the bag and dispose of it in the normal household refuse bin.
- Hands should then be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
- If disposable gloves are not available, a plastic bag can be used as a make-shift glove. When the dead bird has been picked up, the bag can be turned back on itself and tied. It should then be placed in a second plastic bag, tied and disposed of in the normal household waste bin.
- Alternatively, the dead bird can be buried, but not in a plastic bag.
- Any clothing which has been in contact with the dead bird should be washed using ordinary washing detergent, at the temperature normally used for washing the clothing.
- Any contaminated indoor surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with normal household cleaner.
