Bird flu (avian influenza): what is bird flu? How to prevent it and stop it spreading

bailey116
Feb 20
3 min read

What is avian flu?

Avian flu, or bird flu, affects poultry and wild birds. As with other viruses, there are lots of different strains, most of which cause few or no symptoms in infected wild birds. But the recent outbreak is of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which can cause severe disease and high mortality. This strain has devastated UK wild bird populations since Summer 2021. It originated in intensive poultry operations in Asia in 1996 and then spread to wild birds

How bird flu is transmitted

Bird flu mostly spreads from bird to bird through direct or indirect contact with infected saliva, nasal secretions or droppings, as well as through predation/scavenging. There are several ways by which the disease is spread, including by contaminated poultry, their excretions and secretions and contaminated objects. Once established in wild birds it can spread around the world as birds migrate across continents.

Can bird flu affect humans?

Human infections with HPAI are rare and the risk to the public is low. Most infections are among those who have had close contact with infected birds – usually poultry workers. We are advising people against having close contact with sick or injured birds, this includes touching infected birds, their droppings or bedding; killing or preparing infected birds for cooking; breathing in aerosols (e.g. feather dust).

Bird flu cannot spread through properly cooked food. Cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat in areas where outbreaks have occurred. For more information, visit these websites:

What are the symptoms of bird flu?

The main symptoms of bird flu in birds (which can include any or a combination of the following) are:

Swollen head
Closed and excessively watery eyes
Unresponsiveness
Lack of coordination and loss of balance, tremors
Drooping wings and/or dragging legs
Twisting head and neck
Haemorrhages (bleeding) on shanks of the legs and under the skin of the neck
Respiratory distress such as sneezing or gurgling
Discoloured or loose, watery droppings.

Some species (for example ducks and geese) may show few or no symptoms.

One of the main signs of an outbreak is a sudden and rapid increase of dead birds.

How do I report avian flu?

Firstly, do not touch any sick or dead birds. If you are walking with your dog, keep it away from infected birds.

In England, Scotland and Wales, use the online reporting system or call the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77) if you find any dead wild birds.
If you know the species, please ALSO report dead wild birds on BirdTrack to help assess population impacts.

How to prevent it and stop it from spreading?

You must follow this guidance to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.

The main causes of bird flu in poultry and other captive birds are contact with:

wild birds, in particular waterfowl such as geese, ducks and swans and gulls
faeces from infected birds
dirty footwear, clothing and vehicles and equipment

You can speak to your vet about the specific risks to your birds. They can give you advice about practical things you can do to reduce the risk of disease.