Many dead birds have been found in some areas of Finnmark. The epidemic affects especially terns, but also other species of gulls. The Institute of Public Health assesses the risk of human infection as very low.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority encourages you to avoid visiting areas where there are a lot of birds, as the infection can spread on shoes and clothing. This is particularly true in areas where terns and other gull species are abundant, such as resting and bathing areas at estuaries and the like. Wash and disinfect your shoes and clothing if you are traveling between areas with many wild birds.
No movement in nature reserves
To protect bird colonies that have not yet been severely affected by avian flu, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has introduced traffic bans in the Hornøya and Reinøya Nature Reserves, the Andotten Nature Reserve and the Eidvågen Reserve. The travel ban means that people cannot travel overland in these areas.
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See map of areas (google.com). These are areas with colonies of cranes and other birds of sensitive species.
Where possible, warning posters will be posted in places where the ban is in effect. It is important that anyone who travels to these areas finds out about where the traffic ban is in effect.
Travel necessary for life, health and the environment is allowed. The ban also does not apply to personnel involved in publicly organized work related to the collection of dead birds, monitoring, research and eradication of humpback salmon.
Low risk of human infection
The Institute of Public Health assesses the risk of human infection as very low. This also applies to areas where many dead wild birds have been found and avian flu has been detected in wild birds.
An appeal to residents who find dead and sick birds
Report to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, if you notice a large accumulation of dead and sick birds in Finnmark. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority wants to get an overview of the outbreak and in some cases it is appropriate to take samples from dead birds.
Do not touch sick and dead birds. Leave sick birds alone. They get stressed when people get close and are also unable to fly away. Birds that survive the disease will be able to support their chicks.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority works with municipalities, the state administrator in Troms and Finnmark, the Veterinary Institute, the Norwegian Environment Agency, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) and the Norwegian Institute for Life Sciences (NINA). Together, we are constantly evaluating measures to prevent the spread of infection.
Removal of dead wild birds
There is little that can be done to stop infection among wild birds. One measure that can reduce infection is to remove dead birds. This is especially true in areas where there are many dead birds. Municipalities are responsible for all collection and proper disposal of dead birds when needed.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority provides advice and guidance to municipalities on infection control as well as the collection, storage, transport and disposal of dead birds.
People who have to collect large quantities of dead birds on behalf of the authorities must have good protection against infection.
Residents may remove dead birds from their own property
Do not touch a dead bird or other animals. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority, in consultation with the Veterinary Institute, will assess whether a registered bird should be tested for avian influenza.
If you do not receive any information from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority within a few days of reporting the dead bird, you can assume no samples will be taken.
It is fine to leave the bird alone, but if there is a need to remove the bird from your property, an adult should do it.
Contact your municipality to find out if they have a collection program or if they have their own rules for dealing with dead birds.
If there is no system for dealing with dead birds in your municipality, the bird can be buried. It is important to use gloves and a mask when handling the bird, and then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Bury so deep that scavengers cannot dig up the bird.
In areas where there is reason to believe that a bird may be infected with avian influenza, the bird must not be disposed of in the waste. Areas with outbreaks will have many dead birds in concentrated areas.
In areas where there is no bird flu infection, the bird may be placed in a double waste bag before being disposed of in the other waste, if the municipality has no other solution. Remember about gloves, a mask and good hand hygiene.
Low risk of infecting other animals
The currently detected avian flu poses a threat primarily to birds. Infection with avian influenza in mammals is rare, but cases have been reported in several countries, especially in wild mammals such as foxes, seals and minke whales. Scavengers are particularly at risk.
In areas where many birds die from avian flu, consider keeping cats indoors and keeping dogs on leashes to avoid contact with sick and dead birds. This will also protect against other infectious diseases such as salmonella. In addition, sick birds should be left alone, away from other animals, if possible.
Avian flu in cats
Current symptoms in cats include fever, lethargy, runny eyes, difficulty breathing and neurological signs (convulsions and the like). They can also be signs of other respiratory disorders in cats. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect your cat has avian flu.
In general, it's a good routine to avoid animals licking your face, and to wash your hands after handling animals.
We believe that the risk of infection of grazing animals (such as reindeer, small cattle, cattle) is very low and there is no need to take special measures for them.
Good infection control is important if you keep poultry and other birds in captivity
Domesticated birds that go outside are most at risk of possible infection from wild birds. It is therefore important that those who keep poultry and other fowl in captivity take good infection prevention measures. Please keep domesticated birds in a fenced area and possibly under cover to reduce contact with wild birds.
It is important to be careful about infection control and have a low threshold for reporting suspected avian flu if birds suddenly die, lay fewer eggs than usual, eat and drink less than usual, or there is a general change in flock behavior. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect your birds are sick.
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Source: Norwegian Food Safety AuthorityP
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