Finland: Avian influenza (H5N1) has been detected in pheasants and a fox

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008290258.html

Avian influenza has been detected in pheasants released into the wild in Salo
Mikko Marttinen
2:43

H5N1-type avian influenza has been detected in pheasants counted as game birds in Salo. The disease causes high mortality in birds.

The Food Agency says in a statement that it has established an infection zone in the area to prevent the spread of the disease. Movements of poultry and other birds, as well as hunting of birds, are prohibited in the zone.

Due to the autumn migration of birds, bird flu is in danger of spreading to other parts of Finland as well. Avian influenza spreads easily from wild birds to poultry and other birds.

The spread of avian influenza to poultry holdings would cause major economic losses. International trade would come to a halt, and infected birds should be stopped and destroyed.

Avian influenza viruses are poorly transmitted to humans. Infection usually requires close contact with the affected wild bird, poultry, or their secretions.

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/nyt-myo...ssaa/#9276defe

Now also a fox found bird flu
Ilkka Ahtokivi | 04.10.2021 | 14:24

The Janakkala infection zone will be expanded due to new pheasant cases.

The Food Agency has expanded the infection zone established in Janakkala to prevent the spread of bird flu, as pheasants that died of the disease were also found in the vicinity of another holding.

In addition, bird flu has been found in Janakkala from a dead fox. The animal was found in the same area where H5N1-type bird flu, which causes high mortality in birds, was detected in pheasants last week. Pheasants had been counted as game birds in the wild from a nearby pheasant garden.

The Food Agency's investigations confirmed that the fox had the same type of highly pathogenic H5N1 infection as the pheasants.

In the Janakkala Infection Zone, the keeping and movement of poultry and other birds, among other things, is prohibited and requirements have been set to protect bird enclosures from infection. The Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland is in contact with each bird holding registered in each region and provides more detailed instructions.

Hunting of all bird species and the collection of game birds from the zone for farming is prohibited. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that training or experiments for hunting dogs should not now take place in areas where there are wild game birds or game bird farms.

The transmission of avian influenza to a fox is rare, but not entirely exceptional. During the current avian influenza epidemic, isolated cases of H5N8 and H5N1 foxes have been reported in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Dogs and cats are poorly infected with bird flu viruses, but if the animal has stained itself with bird droppings, the pet should be washed thoroughly and taken care of their own hygiene.
The risk of birds getting bird flu is now high

In southwestern Finland and southern Finland, several large outbreaks have been observed in pheasants released into the wild within the last week. In addition to Janakkala and Salo, pheasant infection has also been confirmed in Orimattila in a single bird, and in Parais, highly pathogenic H5N8 was detected in gray herons.

The prolongation of the avian influenza epidemic and the start of the autumn migration of wild birds have also increased the risk of the spread of avian influenza elsewhere in Finland.

The Food and Drug Administration continues to call for more effective disease control of poultry farms and other bird holdings to prevent infections throughout the country.

According to the Food Agency, the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza to poultry holdings would cause major economic losses, both due to the killing, destruction and rehabilitation of infected birds and the stagnation of international trade.

- As all birds in the holding have to be killed, it is possible that valuable breeding animals or recreational birds will also be lost, the agency states in a statement.

Those involved in bird care should avoid contact with wild birds by temporarily abandoning bird hunting or other hobbies in which they come into contact with these birds. In addition, visits to other bird enclosures should be avoided.

Suspicions suggestive of avian influenza, including mass deaths of wild birds and individual dead birds of prey, should be reported to the municipal or county veterinarian.

Avian influenza viruses are poorly transmitted to humans, and infection usually requires close contact with the affected wild bird, poultry, or their secretions.