Diseases

The following page contains links to government information in regards to the latest avian flu situation and diseases in animals and livestock.

Bird flu

Avian influenza (bird flu) mainly affects birds. It can also affect humans and other mammals.

Please see the following link for further details from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for information and advice to poultry keepers.

The recent advice from APHA is that bird keepers are asked to:

• All bird keepers are urged to remain vigilant and take action to protect their birds following a further increase in the avian influenza (‘bird flu’) risk levels in Great Britain.
• The risk level of HPAI H5 in poultry where there is suboptimal or poor biosecurity has increased to medium with low uncertainty.
• The risk level where good biosecurity is consistently applied at all times remains assessed as low with low uncertainty and the risk level in wild birds remains assessed as high.
• Practicing good biosecurity at all times protects the health and welfare of your birds and for commercial keepers will help protect your business from HPAI and other diseases.
• Further information on the evidence which supports these risk levels can be found in our risk and outbreak assessments
• Find out what you can do to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading and how to spot and report it in poultry or other captive birds.
• For further information on the latest situation see:

England gov.uk/birdflu

All keepers of birds that have access to outdoor space must register with APHA by 1st October 2024.  See New mandatory bird registration: what do keepers need to know – Government Vets (blog.gov.uk) for further information and embedded link where to register.

Bird flu is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect any type of bird flu in poultry or captive birds you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301

Bird flu in wild birds

If you find dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you should report them to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77.

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB)

Bovine TB is one of the most complex animal health problems facing the farming industry in Great Britain. Suspicion of the disease must be reported immediately.

Foot and Mouth

Foot and Mouth is a highly infectious disease that affects cloven hoofed animals such as sheep, pigs and cattle.

Rabies

Rabies can affect any mammal and is present in the saliva of infected animals, usually spread by biting.

African Swine Fever

Current updated information on African Swine Fever is available to view on the attached document African Swine Fever Guidance for Pig keepers.

Further information

Further information on diseases and animal welfare can be found on the animal health and welfare page

or please contact us: 

• email: animalhealth@doncaster.gov.uk
• tel: 01302 737554

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