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Written question asked by Claire Young (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 6 January 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 January 2025. It was answered by Daniel Zeichner (Labour) on Monday, 13 January 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Avian Influenza and Notifiable Diseases

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many (a) mallard and (b) other gamebird rear and release facilities where cases of (i) highly pathogenic avian influenza and (ii) other notifiable diseases had been detected (A) had already released gamebirds into the natural environment that season and (B) were open to wild birds (1) by being unroofed and (2) through pop holes being open in each of the last five years.

Answer

My Department holds information on the release of Pheasants and Red-legged partridges on and within a 500m buffer of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in England for the last four years for SACs and two years for SPAs.

In addition, the outcome of veterinary investigations conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at all sites where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds including any cases in kept gamebirds are published on gov.uk in APHA’s outbreak epidemiology reports. These reports include information on potential pathways to infection at the infected premises.

Once gamebirds have been released, they are classed as wild birds for avian influenza rules. Reports of mortality in release gamebirds are investigated through APHA’s wild bird surveillance programme. Details of findings of HPAI in wild birds are published on gov.uk and are available to view and interrogate via APHA’s interactive wild bird surveillance map and dashboard.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
22169
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Birds Game Notifiable diseases Avian influenza Wild ducks
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk