Bird flu outbreak simulation launched by APHA

Ways to improve disease control measures against bird flu are to be scrutinised today (Tuesday 26 January) as part of a major contingency planning exercise being led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

The APHA is undertaking an operational exercise in the Midlands and Wales, based on an outbreak of avian influenza (AI).

An APHA spokeswoman said: “Exercises such as this allow us to identify better ways of working and help ensure our approach to managing a significant disease outbreak is properly co-ordinated.

See also: New bird flu insurance from NFU Mutual

“We must continue to test and improve our disease control measures, and put ourselves in the best possible position to minimise the impact on farmers and their livestock.

“The benefits of such exercises have been recently evidenced by APHA’s success in dealing with AI outbreaks in both England and Scotland.”

The agency said the exercise was an internal one and did not involve wider Defra or Welsh government agencies or organisations.

Tom Lander, NFU poultry spokesman, welcomed the exercise, adding that he hoped some of the logistical issues faced by farmers in AI protection and surveillance zones would be addressed.

Among some of the outstanding issues facing poultry farmers are the costs of secondary cleansing and disinfection, and housing free-range birds caught up in any future outbreaks.