Sharp rise in bird flu cases prompts public safety warning
A rise in avian influenza (bird flu) cases across the UK has prompted new warnings from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and government agencies.
The outbreak has particularly affected wild waterfowl, with cases increasing in several parts of the country. While the risk to the public remains very low, health officials are urging caution and asking people not to touch any sick or dead birds and to keep pets away from affected areas.
Natural Resources Wales has also asked the public to avoid feeding ducks, geese and other wild birds. Officials say feeding encourages birds to gather in large numbers, which can increase the risk of the virus spreading.
In a post on social media, the organisation said:
“To help wild birds: avoid disturbing them, and avoid feeding waterfowl at this time, as feeding could encourage them to congregate and increase the risk of the virus spreading.”
Anyone who finds dead wild birds is asked to report them to the Defra helpline via the UK Government website. Reports help authorities track outbreaks and manage the national response.
BirdTrack, a citizen science project run by the British Trust for Ornithology, is also collecting reports to help monitor how avian flu is affecting wild bird populations.
Reports can be made online at: www.bto.org/our-science/projects/birdtrack
or via the government guidance page: www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds
.
NRW said it will continue to monitor the situation across Wales and issue updates as needed.
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