The risk to human health from casual contact with wild or domestic birds in the UK is minimal and can be reduced further by avoiding contact with sick or dead birds and by practicing normal basic hygiene. At present, the virus is good at infecting birds and very poor at infecting people.
The main threat is to the poultry industry and actions being taken by the Government are targeted at isolating and eradicating the virus where it is found. People are not being advised to avoid visiting the countryside.
The National Trust will continue to welcome visitors to its properties unless advised to the contrary by the Government. We would advise visitors to avoid direct contact with birds or their droppings and to wash if such contact is made unintentionally.
If you find dead swans, ducks or geese you should follow advice provided by DEFRA.
Contacting DEFRA for advice on reporting dead birds:
- Online at www.defra.gov.uk
- Call the DEFRA Helpline (08459 33 55 77) (for England, Scotland or Wales)
- Call DARD (on 02890 524999) if you live in Northern Ireland.
For further details of the National Trust’s position and a joint statement from conservation organisations download our joint statement (PDF/161 KB)
|
