HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
RURAL AFFAIRS PANEL
THURSDAY 13 APRIL 2006 AT 10.00 A.M.
Agenda Item No.
4a
Information Report
AVIAN FLU
Report of the Director of Environment
Authors: Cathy Fielding, Trading Standards and Simon Aries, Environmental
Management Group
Tel: 01992 555255
Executive Member: Stuart Pile
1.
Purpose of report
To update the Panel on the County Council’s preparation and
approach to an outbreak of avian flu in the United Kingdom and/or
Hertfordshire.
2.
Summary
2.1
Avian flu is primarily a disease of birds, potentially affecting both wild
and commercially reared birds. Whilst close contact with a diseased
bird or contaminated droppings may cause the disease to be
contracted by humans, there is currently no established route of spread
from human to human.
2.2
The virulent strain of avian flu H5N1 is causing concern as it is highly
pathogenic, being easily spread between birds and highly contagious
within flocks of commercial poultry and fowl. First detected in South
East Asia it has since spread to Central Asia, Russia and Europe.
2.3
Although human deaths so far have been limited to just over 100, in the
affected areas the impact associated with subsistence farming and
back yard enterprises has been devastating.
3.
Conclusion
Although further work is required over the next month or so to complete
plans in readiness for an outbreak of avian flu, the County Council is
well advanced with these and ready to react in case of an outbreak.
Further updates will be provided to Members, relevant officers and if
necessary the public as required.
060413
1
4.
Background
National Context
4.1
The lead agency in the UK in the event of an outbreak would be the
Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). They are
currently providing a helpline for members of the public to report
suspicious bird deaths. These reports are risk-assessed and followed
up as appropriate. Defra have also been undertaking surveillance of
wild birds in the UK. To date this has not revealed the presence of the
H5N1 strain.
4.2
Any response to an outbreak would be led by the State Veterinary
Service (SVS), which is a Defra Agency. It would manage all
operational aspects of emergency disease control at both national and
local level.
4.3
In the event of a case of avian flu being confirmed, an Infected Area
would be declared by the Secretary of State. This would be in the form
of a Declaratory Order and would result in a Protection Zone of 3 km
radius around the premises together with a larger Surveillance Zone of
10 km radius. Controls would be imposed within these zones such as
restrictions of animal movements and a cleansing and a disinfection
regime.
4.4
A national contingency plan is in place and has been agreed by
Trading Standards through the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of
Regulatory Services, LACORS.
The County Council’s approach
4.5
The County Council have adapted the national contingency plan to
form one specifically for Hertfordshire. This would be put into action by
the Safety Emergency & Risk Management Unit (SERMU) and Trading
Standards in the event of any outbreak. To help with this, officers from
SERMU and from Trading Standards will be observing at a regional
Emergency Planning event on Avian Flu, called Operation Hawthorn, in
early April.
4.6
In the event of an outbreak, Trading Standards would have the
responsibility for the enforcement of animal health and welfare
provision and would work in close partnership with the SVS to ensure
any outbreak was controlled and eradicated as quickly as possible.
4.7
Trading Standards would also be responsible for policing and enforcing
any controls put in place under a Declaratory Order, with the ultimate
sanction for non compliance being prosecution. It is anticipated that
such an Order would also give powers for a local authority inspector i.e.
from Trading Standards to close footpaths after consultation with Defra.
060413
2
It is not, however, anticipated, that there will be a wholesale shutting of
the countryside as there was with Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001.
The County Council’s preparedness
4.8
The County Council has adopted a proactive approach and crossdepartmental group met in January 2006 to consider strategic issues.
Officers from Trading Standards, Environment, SERMU, Corporate
Communications and County Secretary’s were in attendance.
4.9
One of the main tasks identified was to find out where all poultry is
being kept. Commercial flocks of 50 or more birds should now have
registered with Defra and Trading Standards have issued a news
release asking local keepers of less than 50 birds to come forward on a
voluntary basis. This has generated a good response, with over 60
keepers making contact and means that the best advice can be passed
on to these keepers as soon as it is available. The news release is
shown as Appendix A.
4.10 Trading Standards are also cross-referencing its own information with
Defra’s poultry register and has made visits to farmers markets and
farm shops to identify keepers of small numbers of birds. It is working
with partner agencies such as the egg marketing inspectorate.
4.11 Defra information leaflets are being given to all known keepers and
Trading Standards are engaging with the Health Safety and Risk
management team in Children, Schools & Families (CSF) to identify
schools which keep birds and to give best advice should dead birds be
spotted.
4.12 Within the Environment Department relevant officers, such as those in
Rights of Way, the Countryside Management Service and Herts
Highways, have been asked to be vigilant when on site and look out for
anything out of the ordinary in terms of bird deaths e.g. numbers of
dead birds in close proximity etc. Trading Standards Animal Health
Officers are taking a similar stance when undertaking farm visits.
4.13 Trading Standards are also engaging with other agencies such as the
Police and the Lee Valley Park Authority who would have a part to play
in any outbreak ensuring responses are joined up. A meeting with
District Councils is also intended to clarify and manage expectations.
4.14 Ensuring that we have the most up-to-date information is key and the
County Council is using the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk as its
primary source for guidance. The Trading Standards section of the
HertsDirect website also contains information which is updated on a
continuing basis and this links directly to the Defra website.
4.15 The public can currently use both these websites as sources of
information, but consideration is currently being given to the setting up
060413
3
of a helpline based at the Customer Service Centre. This would be an
efficient way of responding to the anticipated numbers of enquiries from
the public in the event of an outbreak.
4.16 Advice on health issues is provided through NHS Direct at
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. and through the Health Protection Agency at
www.hpa.org.uk. The Food Standards Agency is responsible for
providing advice on the safety of food at www.food.gov.uk.
4.17 Defra guidance is being followed in terms of safety of staff. Extra
protective clothing has been ordered for officers in Trading Standards
and a contingency team briefed.
4.18 A key County Council site that needed to be looked at was Aldenham
Country Park and a risk assessment has taken place for the poultry and
wildfowl. Resultant precautions have been put in place to limit the
possibility of wild birds coming into contact with the domestic birds and
their food. In the event of an outbreak of avian flu, the Park would react
to Defra advice and would follow its existing contingency plans that
cover staff welfare and visitor management.
060413
4
APPENDIX A
NEWS RELEASE
PR 4995
For Immediate Release
28 February 2006
All poultry keepers urged to register flocks
All Hertfordshire poultry owners are urged to register their flocks immediately
- as part of measures to guard against an outbreak of bird flu.
Any business with 50 or more birds was required by law to register its flock by
today (February 28) with the Department of Environment Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra).
Trading standards services are gearing up to check that all such poultry
businesses have registered - and any that have not could face court action
and a fine of up to £5,000.
Additionally, anyone who has small numbers of less than 50 birds (chickens,
turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, partridges, pheasants, quail, pigeons and
ostriches or similar exotic birds) is asked to contact Herts Trading Standards
on 01727 813849 so that owners can be quickly updated with the best advice.
David Lloyd, Hertfordshire's County Council's Executive Member for Adult Care
Services and Community Safety, said: "We're working closely with key
partners to put into place a range of contingency plans to make sure any
signs of avian flu are detected at the earliest opportunity.
"It is crucial to know where birds are in the event of any outbreak because
then we would be able to quickly inform all poultry owners of the measures
they would need to take to prevent avian flu spreading.”
"Trading standards services are happy to advise local poultry keepers, if
necessary, and are committed to ensuring the continuing health and welfare
of local agricultural economies."
"Hertfordshire Trading Standards is on full alert to guard against an outbreak
of bird flu - and we hope that the public will feel reassured that we and all the
other agencies involved are doing everything possible to protect them.
"We really hope that all domestic poultry owners appreciate the need to
protect their own and other flocks and will contact Trading Standards
voluntarily."
060413
5
Poultry owners with 50 or more should call Defra on 0800 634 1112 or visit
www.defra.gov.uk
Members of the public wishing to report deaths of wild birds - particularly if
several corpses are found in one place - should contact the Defra helpline on
08459 335577.
Notes for Editors
Trading standards' role in relation to safeguarding against avian flu involves
the following specific functions:
• Preparing a local contingency plan
• Enforcement of various preventative measures, including restrictions relating
to bird gatherings.
• Enforcement of legislation in the event of a disease outbreak.
• Enforcing movement restrictions and involvement in licensing moves.
• Signposting restricted areas.
• Possible closure of footpaths based on veterinary risk assessment.
• Cleansing and disinfection duties.
• Gathering information on bird owners and providing guidance.
• Working with other disease control partners.
Trading standards services are responsible for enforcement of the Animal
Health Act 1981 and Regulations and Orders made under The Diseases of
Poultry Order 2003.
Further information about avian flu is available on www.hertsdirect.org and
www.defra.gov.uk
Issued by:
Chris Johnson
Press Officer
Tel: 01992 555059
Fax: 01992 555645
Email: chris.johnson@hertscc.gov.uk
For political comment please contact:
David Lloyd (Conservative), Executive Member, Adult Care and
Community Safety on 01582 841343
Michael Downing (Labour), Spokesman on Adult Care and
Community Safety on 01438 213870
Michael Colne (Liberal Democrat), Spokesman on Public Protection on 0208 950 461
060413
6