The risk of infection to humans is considered very low, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority states in a press release on Thursday night.
– This is a very serious situation for poultry production in Rogaland, and potentially for the rest of the country. Avian influenza usually leads to serious illness and death in infected birds. The disease is highly contagious between birds, says Ingunn Midttun Godal, CEO of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
She further states in the press release that all animals in the infected poultry farm have been killed and restrictions are imposed on poultry farming in a larger area around the herd to prevent further spread of infection.
Analyzes and assessments
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority was notified on Wednesday of increased mortality in the herd. The herd of 7,500 hens was then tied up, which means that animals could not be moved into or out of the herd.
In addition, samples were taken that have been analyzed by the Veterinary Institute. The tests show that it is bird flu, and further investigations are now being done to clarify what type of bird flu this is. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute carry out further analyzes and assessments.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is on the farm tonight and has killed the rest of the crew. It is not yet known how the infection has entered the herd.
Working to get an overview
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will now introduce a number of measures to prevent further spread of infection. Among other things, a curfew will be introduced in parts of Rogaland, a risk zone and an observation zone around the herd where the infection has been detected.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will probably return to final measures during Friday. For the time being, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority recommends as little transfer of poultry and eggs from farms in this area as possible.
– We are working to get a complete overview of the situation and continuously assess what measures are necessary. Additional measures may come in the near future and at short notice, says Godal.
Good infection protection
Avian influenza is a notifiable disease. Poultry farmers and others who have bird farms must therefore immediately contact the Norwegian Food Safety Authority if they suspect that there is bird flu in their herd.
– The most important thing now is that everyone who has poultry and other birds has good infection control measures, so that they avoid infection. Make sure that your birds do not have direct contact with wild birds, or indirect contact, for example via faeces from these, says Godal.
Bird flu is first and foremost a risk to birds and not humans, the risk of infection to humans is considered very low. A few varieties of bird flu can infect humans. Further sample analyzes will finally clarify what kind of variant is in question in this case.
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