In recent days, dead birds with bird flu have been found in two places on Haugalandet and in Askvoll in Western Norway. This happens after experienced ornithologists said they were worried about dead birds that washed ashore along the coast. They feared that the birds had died of bird flu. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority now confirms that bird flu has been found on a total of 15 birds along the coast. It is only just over six months since the previous major outbreak of bird flu in a commercial poultry farm on Jæren. This is one of the dead birds found on Orrestranda. The photo shows a dead sole, and was taken on Tuesday 14 June. Photo: Kari Prestgaard It was egg farmer Kenneth Hole at Voll on Jæren who in November had to slaughter 7,500 chickens because bird flu was detected on his farm. He does not like the reports of infection among wild birds. – This is definitely something we follow. I get nervous when I hear about a new infection, says Hole, who is also a board member of Rogaland poultry association. FACTS: Bird flu Bird flu is a contagious viral disease in birds, which can lead to a mortality rate in poultry flocks of up to 100 percent. The disease is caused by a flu A virus. Different varieties of bird flu viruses lead to diseases of varying severity. The severe form of the disease is described as highly pathogenic (highly pathogenic) bird flu. There are also varieties of bird flu that are not pathogenic, or only cause mild respiratory symptoms when they infect poultry. Avian influenza is transmitted by droplet infection from the upper respiratory tract, and through feces or dust of feces that is taken up through the beak or inhaled. Stools from one infected bird can infect many thousands of poultry. Bird flu is very rarely transmitted from birds to humans. Those who have been infected have, as far as is known, been in very close contact with sick or dead birds. There are no examples of the disease being transmitted to humans via food or drinking water. (Source: The Norwegian Food Safety Authority) New outbreak will hit hard He says the industry is very concerned about infection control, and that they do what they can to avoid a new outbreak. – We have an extra lock of infection, which means extra change of clothes, shoe change, hand washing and disinfection before we go in to the hens. If we are hit by a new outbreak, it will have very big consequences, says Hole. He does not think he will be able to continue with poultry and egg production if he were to get the infection on the farm once again. – It will go hard beyond motivation. I would probably have considered the entire poultry farm if it happens again, he says. The road was blocked off when bird flu was detected on Kenneth Hole’s farm in November last year. Photo: Emily Poole / news – Lack of resources The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has received criticism from, among others, ornithologist Alf Tore Mjøs for not doing enough to prevent bird flu infection. Section manager Kari Haugstad in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority believes, among other things, that it is a question of resources. – We do not have the resources or capacity to remove dead birds. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has no authority over ownerless birds, she says. – Are you afraid that the bird flu will spread quickly? – What we know is that bird flu is natural in the wild bird population. What we are afraid of is that it will enter commercial poultry farms. That is why we ask people to be careful. Monitoring wild birds In Rogaland, three birds have been found in Klepp, two in Sola, one in Karmøy and one in Tysvær. – There are seven birds more than at the same time last year. But we have encouraged people to get in touch, and then there will often be more registrations, says department head Geir Nødland in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Bird flu has also been found in birds in the municipalities of Frøya, Hitra and Oslo, as well as in the North Sea outside Rogaland. The samples are made by the Veterinary Institute. “Ever since the commercial outbreak last year, the wild bird population has been under surveillance in Rogaland,” says Nødland.
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The poultry industry fears a new outbreak after bird flu has been detected in several places – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
