Bird Flu

[Bowbroom]

Not looking good, the disease has been diagnosed in sheep.
If APHA and DEFRA run true to form it wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t get further restrictions, now that it’s jumping species all we can do is hope for the best

[NeilA]

Does that mean pigeons can get it ? I was told they can’t but never understood why

[Bowbroom]

Although not common viruses can on occasions “jump” from species to species and that is what the authorities are concerned about, Covid is allegedly said to have started in bats and Ebola and AIDS in Monkeys. I believe that proven transmission of AI to pigeons is minuscule in the extreme. However the powers that be will always err on the side of caution and we may get caught up in it.

[Winfort Lofts]

I was always of the understanding that pigeons can not catch it in the traditional sense.

However when exposed to the virus, they can transport it to other locations.

For example say a garden bird has the virus, pecking about in your garden/shed roof, your race birds pick it up through contact with the shedding. Then go in the race panniers on the weekend and boom, that whole race pannier is now carrying that virus back to other Lofts and gardens.

[NeilA]

Although not common viruses can on occasions “jump” from species to species and that is what the authorities are concerned about, Covid is allegedly said to have started in bats and Ebola and AIDS in Monkeys. I believe that proven transmission of AI to pigeons is minuscule in the extreme. However the powers that be will always err on the side of caution and we may get caught up in it.

I have no understanding of it just that if it can be found in sheep and cows it would seem easier to spread from birds to pigeons

[king]

Although not common viruses can on occasions “jump” from species to species and that is what the authorities are concerned about, Covid is allegedly said to have started in bats and Ebola and AIDS in Monkeys. I believe that proven transmission of AI to pigeons is minuscule in the extreme. However the powers that be will always err on the side of caution and we may get caught up in it.

I have no understanding of it just that if it can be found in sheep and cows it would seem easier to spread from birds to pigeons

I find it strange that they have disclosed it has 'jumped' and infected a sheep?. CATS can contract and spread bird flu (avian influenza), particularly the H5N1 strain, and are known to be susceptible to severe illness, sometimes resulting in death. Yet they don't inform or place restrictions on cat owners of the risk? But they fall over backwards to control the movement of pigeons which pose VERY LITTLE RISK

[Bowbroom]

Unfortunately it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks, the authorities APHA and DEFRA have the law at their disposal, if they determine if we can race or not is at their discretion, the best we can hope for is permission to carry on is given and that any restrictions if imposed are manageable

[Trev]

I was always of the understanding that pigeons can not catch it in the traditional sense.

However when exposed to the virus, they can transport it to other locations.

For example say a garden bird has the virus, pecking about in your garden/shed roof, your race birds pick it up through contact with the shedding. Then go in the race panniers on the weekend and boom, that whole race pannier is now carrying that virus back to other Lofts and gardens.

Thats what I've always understood too !!
I'm afraid having dealt with DEFRA through my years farming, both they and the APHA are a load of jobsworths who don't know there arse from their elbow, but unfortunately we are completely at their mercy.

[Bowbroom]

According to the RPRA website the Protection Zone is expanding quickly

[MIL]

Staffy can't race before 4th May as bird flu confirmed local to him