We all have a part to play in stopping the spread of bird flu, BASC tells BBC

Practising the highest biosecurity is the “biggest tool” available to stop the spread of avian influenza, BASC told the BBC.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today programme, BASC’s head of game and wildlife management Glynn Evans told presenter Anna Hill that “everybody” should be responsible and follow best practice biosecurity.

Mr Evans said the risk level for kept game birds was low.

He told the programme: “If we look at game birds on the rearing field, they are kept birds, they are classed as poultry. The risk level for these birds, for all kept poultry, at the moment is low. When we look at wild birds, the risk is high. So the thing that we must do, whatever birds we are keeping – whether it’s a backyard flock of chickens or whether it’s game birds on a rearing field – we must practice the highest biosecurity. That is our biggest tool to stop the spread of avian influenza to captive birds.”

He added: “Everybody should be responsible and follow best practice biosecurity.”

He went on to say: “Every time any of us goes to the country, do we practice biosecurity? Do we clean our boots? These are things that people who go shooting will have plans in place to do.”

You can listen to the interview (from 8 minutes 8 seconds) here.

For more information and advice, head to BASC’s dedicated avian influenza hub here.