Fewer restrictions against bird flu in Rogaland
On 17 December, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority lifted the 10-kilometer surveillance zone around the plant that was found to have bird flu at Kolnes in Sola municipality. This means that most restrictions to prevent the spread of bird flu have been removed.
However, all birds must still be kept indoors, bird hunting is prohibited and bird exhibitions are prohibited.
The lifting of the 10-kilometer monitoring zone (Kolnes) involves all restrictions linked to the detection at the plant in Sola, which was detected with bird flu in November, has been lifted. The restrictions, which still apply in large parts of Rogaland, are linked to the risk of infection from wild birds.
Clear to avoid new views
It has been a demanding harvest for the poultry industry in Rogaland. In a short time there was an outbreak of Newcastle disease and two outbreaks of bird flu in commercial poultry flocks.
The Danish Food Safety Authority therefore introduced a number of restrictions to prevent more animal farms with birds from becoming infected.
Together with the industry, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has managed to prevent bird flu from spreading.
– It is a milestone that together we have managed to avoid spreading to several animal farms with birds. Bird flu is one of the most serious, contagious viral diseases in domestic and wild birds, says Inge Erlend Næsset, director of regulations and control at the Danish Food Safety Authority.
– I would like to write to everyone who has birds in this area, both the farmers, the industry, those who have chickens and the private practicing veterinarians for the effort they have put in, he adds.
Infection control, infection control, infection control
– In order to avoid new livestock holdings with birds, hobby or commercial, becoming infected with this serious disease, it is crucial that everyone who has birds has good infection control measures. Make sure that your birds do not have direct or indirect contact with wild birds, for example via faeces from them, says Næsset.
Still preventive zone
It is still bird flu season, and the disease has been detected in wild birds in Rogaland and elsewhere in Norway.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is therefore the infected zone in Rogaland, which was established to prevent the spread of bird flu from wild to domesticated birds.
The zone includes 15 municipalities; Bjerkreim, Eigersund, Gjesdal, Hjelmeland, Hå, Klepp, Kvitsøy, Lund, Randaberg, Sandnes, Sokndal, Sola, Stavanger, Strand and Time.
In these municipalities, all birds must still be kept indoors (possibly outdoors under a roof), it is forbidden to hunt and catch birds and ducks and cannot be kept together with other birds. It is also prohibited to arrange bird exhibitions or other gatherings with birds.
The rules apply to everyone who keeps animals with birds, whether you have three hens in your yard or run a commercial animal farm with birds.
Severe bird flu season in Europe
During this year’s bird flu season, in many European countries, an unusually high number of flocks of birds are diagnosed with bird flu.
In Denmark, this harvest they have had eight demonstrations in commercial poultry flocks and hobby flocks with birds. The bird flu threat level has been raised to high and all domesticated birds must be kept indoors or under cover if outdoors.
In Great Britain, they have had over 140 outbreaks of avian flu in bird farms, and they have also introduced requirements to keep domesticated birds indoors.
– This is an important reminder that the situation for birds remains serious, concluded Næsset.