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After the bird flu virus was found in wild and domestic birds in the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain and Denmark, the Swedish Board of Agriculture increased the level of protection for all flocks of birds. This means that the animals must remain indoors. When it comes to the so-called private flocks of hobbies, it is enough that the birds are kept fenced in, but not allowed to roam freely.
Does not infect humans
At this particular time of fall, the risk of spreading the virus is greatest, when many seabirds are moving. The latest variants of the virus that have been found have in common that they cause high mortality in both domestic and wild birds, but it has not affected humans.
– The virus has a high mortality rate in birds. If an outbreak occurs, it has major consequences and, in addition to many birds becoming sick and dying, it can lead to trade restrictions, among other things, says Lotta Hofverberg, head of the infection control unit at the Swedish Board of Agriculture. .
Wild birds are likely infected
The last time Sweden was affected by a major outbreak of bird flu was in the winter of 2016-2017, according to the Swedish Veterinary Institute, SVA.
– There was a major outbreak in Europe when Sweden was also affected. Since then, we’ve seen isolated cases mostly in wild birds, says Malin Grant, an epidemiologist in the SVA department of epidemiology and disease control.
Now that the virus has been found as close as Denmark and Germany, there is a high probability that wild birds are carrying the infection, says Malin Grant:
– If you find dead birds in the wild, we want to examine them, says Malin Grant from SVA.
SVA and the Swedish Board of Agriculture are following the development and the highest level of protection applies until further notice.
