Guidance for poultry keepers in relation to novel H1N1 Influenza A virus

As always, poultry keepers should maintain high standards of biosecurity to protect their birds. Preliminary studies with chickens and turkeys had suggested that these birds were not susceptible to infection with H1N1/09v, however, two pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreaks have been reported in Chile in commercial breeding turkeys. This caused a mild disease in domestic poultry leading to a drop in egg production. There were no respiratory signs and no mortality and there has been no spread of disease outside these two (linked) premises.

The risk to the UK poultry population from Chile through legal import or live poultry or poultry meat is considered to be negligible.

In line with advice from the British Veterinary Association poultry keepers should ensure strict biosecurity is maintained on poultry premises and those showing flu-like symptoms should not come into contact with poultry. Bird keepers must, of course, ensure that the health and welfare needs of their birds are met by suitable skilled staff if they are unable to care for them themselves. Poultry keepers should continue, as always, to follow current guidance about biosecurity and flock health.

Where pig herds and poultry flocks are located on the same premises, biosecurity precautions should be in place to minimise the risk of disease spreading between units.