Bird flu
As the bird flu (avian flu) virus is carried by birds, it's very difficult to prevent it spreading. However, there are some general measures you can take to reduce your risk of catching a viral infection.
To reduce your risk of catching and passing on viral infections, such as flu, always ensure you:
You can feed wild birds and ducks, but it's important to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Don't go near sick or dead birds. Keep away from bird droppings if possible and wash your hands thoroughly if you accidentally touch any.
Call theDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) helpline on 08459 33 55 77 if you findfive or more dead birds in the same place.
If you come across between one and four dead birds, Defra advises leaving them alone or disposing of them carefully. See the Defra website for guidelineson disposing of dead birds.
In general, you don't need to change the way you look after your pets. If you have a dog that sometimes catches wild birds, try to avoid areas where this is likely to happen. In theory, the H5N1 bird flu strain can be passed on to other animals, but it's very unlikely.
If you have a pet bird, you should avoid lettingit have any contact with wild birds or wild bird droppings.
If you're travelling in a country that's had an outbreak of bird flu, don't go to live animal markets or poultry farms.
Don't go near bird droppings or dead birds, and don't bringlive birds or poultry products back to the UK with you, including feathers.
The NHS has plans in place to manage a potential outbreak of bird flu in the UK, although such an outbreak is considered highly unlikely.
Bird flu isn't transmitted through cooked food. It's safe to eat poultry and eggs in areas that have had outbreaks of bird flu.
As a precaution, always ensure good hygiene standards when preparing and cooking meat. For example:
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Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious viral illness that spreads among birds. In rare cases, it can affect humans.
As the bird flu (avian flu) virus is carried by birds, it's very difficult to prevent it spreading. However, there are some general measures you can take.