The targeted surveillance strategy will involve sampling for the disease in areas which have higher numbers of migrating waterfowl and larger poultry populations. The programme, being introduced in time for the autumn migration of water birds from more northerly latitudes, will have three main elements:
- Testing of live birds (which are then released);
- Testing shot birds (shot as part of normal legal wild fowling activities); and
- Testing certain species of dead wild birds found in designated areas.
Screening for the virus will take place in designated surveillance areas where a sample of reported dead birds will be collected and tested. Unusually high numbers of dead birds will continue to be investigated throughout the UK as in previous years. This is a separate survey to ascertain the causes of these deaths. Samples from wild birds collected under the surveillance programme will continue to be tested at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. These samples are collected to provide a continuous snap-shot of the wild bird population and not because they are under particular suspicion of disease. Annual testing on poultry flocks across the UK to detect any possible infection early will continue.
Further information on this subject is available by following the links below.
