A contagious virus is spreading among pigeons in Oslo. Dozens of dead pigeons have been found in various parts of the city. The authorities have therefore issued two clear recommendations: Do not feed the pigeons. And if you find a dead pigeon, don’t touch it. Currently, it is not known whether the virus will spread to other species. But if it were to spread to, for example, domesticated chickens, the consequences could be dramatic due to EU rules. – This would mean that an outbreak in poultry would lead to the culling of the entire herd in order to combat the disease and prevent further spread, says Silje Granstad, specialist in poultry at the Veterinary Institute. Currently, it is not known how dangerous the virus is for other birds, says Silje Granstad at the Veterinary Institute. Photo: Bryndis Holm / Veterinary Institute Follows closely This does not apply to wild birds. Therefore, there are no plans for any culling of pigeons in the capital for the time being. – When it comes to viruses circulating among wild birds, not much can be done about it other than monitoring the situation, analyzing the virus and making risk assessments. Possibly introduce preventive measures to ensure that this does not enter poultry farms, says Granstad. Dead pigeons are kept for autopsy at the Veterinary Institute. Photo: Bryndis Holm, Veterinary Institute It is the virus paramyxovirus type 1 that was found in the pigeons. Currently, no one knows how dangerous it can be for other types of birds. Therefore, you also don’t know how bad it is if it spreads further. Do not touch dead pigeons If you find a dead pigeon in Oslo, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will notify you. They take samples from dead pigeons to find out more about the virus. If the Norwegian Food Safety Authority does not need to sample the bird, and you still want to remove it, you should take some precautions: Use gloves or a plastic bag to pick up the bird Put the bird in a plastic bag and throw it in the residual waste Wash your hands well afterwards According to the Veterinary Institute, infectious not the virus from birds to humans. Currently, it is not known whether the virus will spread to other species. Photo: Bryndis Holm, Veterinary Institute Not the same fear The situation does not appear to be as serious as in Rogaland in autumn 2021, when an outbreak of bird flu was detected. At that time, 7,500 chickens had to be killed to prevent further infection. The situation there was extra special, because farms in this area account for over a third of the supply of eggs and meat to Norway. But in the Oslo area there is a longer distance between poultry flocks. – So this does not trigger the same fear as the bird flu outbreak in November did. But of course we are vigilant, says Granstad. Call the Norwegian Food Safety Authority on telephone 22 40 00 00 if you suspect, or detect, a serious infectious animal disease.
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