Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a contagious viral disease affecting mainly chickens, turkeys ducks and other birds. If you see a dead bird, the action you should take is as follows:

*If you see more than 10 dead birds of the same species in the same location in Cambridgeshire. especially if they are waterfowl (eg, ducks, geese and swans), you should contact:

• the dedicated DEFRA helpline on 08459 33 55 77, or
• VLA Bury St Edmunds on 01284 724499. Their postal address is Rougham Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2RX

* If you find any single dead birds, including garden birds, then you do not need to call the DEFRA helpline.  You should:

• leave it alone or
• follow the guidelines below for disposal

Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people and some simple hygiene precautions should minimise the risk of infection.  It is hard for people to catch avian influenza from birds and the following simple steps are effective in preventing avian influenza and other diseases. 

If you have to move a dead bird:

1. Avoid touching the bird with your bare hands

2. If possible, wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling

3. Place the dead bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak proof. Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag

4. Tie the bag and place it in a second plastic bag

5. Remove gloves by turning them inside out and then place them in the second plastic bag. Tie the bag and dispose of in the normal household refuse bin.

6. Hands should then be washed thoroughly with soap and water

7. If disposable gloves are not available, a plastic bag can be used as a make-shift glove. When the dead bird has been picked up, the bag can be turned back on itself and tied. It should then be placed in a second plastic bag, tied and disposed of in the normal household waste

8. Alternatively, the dead bird can be buried, but not in a plastic bag

9. Any clothing that has been in contact with the dead bird should be washed using ordinary washing detergent at the temperature normally used for washing the clothing.

10. Any contaminated indoor surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with normal household cleaner.

• Norfolk Suffolk, Essex, Bedforshire and Lincolnshire have been designated as targeted surveillance areas by DERFA. There if you are visiting these counties and find dead waterfowl you should report its location to DEFRA helpline 08459 33 55 77
•  If you see a number of dead birds or birds showing signs of disease e.g. ducks on a pond, other waterfowl or domestic fowl , you should contact the State Veterinary Service (SVS) on 01284 778150 It would also be helpful if you could inform:
  
• Cambridgeshire Trading Standards on 01954 284619, and
• Cambridgeshire Civil Protection Team on 01223 717676

You can access further information about Avian Flu by downloading DEFRA’s ‘Avian Influenza Factsheet through the link on the main Poultry Disease page.