The Veterinary Institute asks all pet owners to keep cats and dogs away from sick and dead birds, they report in a press release. They assist the Norwegian Food Safety Authority with professional advice in connection with the ongoing outbreak in bird colonies in Finnmark. Previous infection tests have shown that cats and dogs are susceptible to infection with bird flu. It is rare that mammals can become infected, but it can happen, writes the institute. Along the coast of Finnmark, efforts are being made to clean up the large masses of dead birds. Here in Vadsø, several thousand dead birds have been picked up in a few days. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news Some cases have previously been described, especially in wild animal species such as foxes and seals. The animals have then probably eaten or been in contact with infected birds or carcasses. The risk of pets in Norway being infected is low, points out the Veterinary Institute. In cases where cats and dogs live near seabird colonies, where there is an outbreak of avian influenza, the owners should be particularly attentive, they write. Taking the bird death seriously Bird flu continues to spread in Finnmark. All along the coast there are reports of large masses of dead birds. In Vadsø alone, several thousand dead birds have been picked up in recent days. On Thursday, over 700 dead birds were registered, according to Mayor Wenche Pedersen. They have now asked the state administrator to help with the clean-up. – There are dead birds on the shore that we do not have the capacity to clear away. It is sad and broken work that has to be done, says Pedersen. Vadsø municipality has cleared areas where there has been the most traffic. So when the dead bird shows up on the shore they don’t have the opportunity to clean it up themselves. That is why they have asked the state administrator for help, says Mayor Wenche Pedersen. Photo: Sidsel Vik / news The Norwegian Food Safety Authority describes the situation as the largest outbreak of bird flu in wild birds Norway has seen. The images of the many dead birds have also shaken Agriculture and Food Minister Sandra Borch (Sp). – I have asked to be kept informed of developments in the case, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority is continuously evaluating measures to prevent the spread of infection, she tells NTB. Take action Although there are figures on the number of dead birds from various places in Finnmark, it is probably a large dark figure, according to Grim Rømo at the Veterinary Institute. Several municipalities have initiated measures to prevent further spread of the disease. At Vardø harbour, they have set up a disinfection station. Tourists must use this when they go out to the bird colony on Hornøya. At this station, visitors wash their shoes before and after the trip out to the bird colony on Hornøya. This way they can help prevent the spread of the disease. Photo: Leif Arne Haugom / Vardø Havn Harbor manager Leif Haugom says that they see few dead birds on the island, but find more on the mainland. – It is starting to approach 500-1000 dead birds that we have picked up. They are scattered throughout the municipality and we collect where we see dead birds. We must expect that bird flu in wild birds will become normal, according to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Concern for endangered species Recently, there have been several cases of bird flu among wild birds along the coast of Norway, writes Synne Wille Mjølnerød in the Food Safety Authority. They are now worried that the infection will enter poultry farms where there is egg or chicken production, and in species threatened with extinction. So far, crutches in particular have been affected by the outbreak. The seagull species is red-listed. On Ekkerøy, outside Vadsø, there are large quantities of dead crutches. Grim Rømo, head of poultry at the Veterinary Institute, describes the bird flu situation as extreme. – It is definitely disturbing. Many of the stocks here are endangered and there is a high mortality rate. Photo: Knut-Sverre Horn / news The Norwegian Food Safety Authority, together with several agencies, is now looking at possible measures. They will come out with that when it is ready. According to Leif Haugom, between 500 and 1000 dead birds have been collected in Vardø. But there are large dark figures and they do not have a full overview of how much has been picked up. Photo: Leif Arne Haugom / Vardø Harbor The boat does not anchor Harbor manager Haugom in Vardø has kept the tourist boats out to Hornøya going, despite the disease outbreak. – If you are going to save more birds, the risk is probably greater that those who go out to the island take infection with them, than when you leave the island. The measures we have taken with both disinfection and information to visitors are sufficient. It is on the eve of the season, and if they had closed the traffic it should have happened much earlier, he explains. – In two weeks, most of the birds will leave the island, so we are a little late for other measures.
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The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is concerned that the infection is spreading to endangered species – news Troms and Finnmark
