Avian influenza outbreak: Carmichael reiterates calls for greater biosecurity funding

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today in Parliament reiterated calls for better funding of the Animal and Plant Health Agency following a new case of avian influenza in the UK. Speaking during an Urgent Question on the issue, Mr Carmichael noted the challenges in limiting the spread of disease amongst wild bird populations, but called on ministers to engage more with related organisations to monitor the harm to wildlife.

Following an increase in cases of Avian Influenza, poultry owners have been told they must:

• Minimise contact with wild birds by keeping free range birds in fences areas or indoors.
• Provide feed and water undercover so wild birds cannot access it.
• Clean and disinfect footwear before and after looking after birds.
• Keep ducks and geese separate from other poultry.

It is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Scotland and England to follow these rules to protect their flocks from the threat of avian influenza – including keeping birds indoors. One case of Avian Influenza has been detected in a farm worker in the UK this week. This marks a rare occurrence, given only seven cases identified in the UK since 2021. DEFRA and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have reported that the risk of public health remains low.

Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“I do not think anybody would disagree with the comments about the redevelopment of the [Animal and Plant Health Agency] facility at Weybridge, but I suspect that once avian influenza is in the wild bird population, as it is here, even the best facility in the world will struggle to contain it. 

“On disease containment, I remember the absolutely heartbreaking experience of walking along beaches in Orkney and seeing dead body after dead body. Is the Minister engaging with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and other major organisations so that he can at least be aware of the impact on the wild bird population?”

Responding for the government, the Minister for Food Security, Daniel Zeichner MP said:

“I thank the Chair of the Select Committee, who is absolutely right. We have heard harrowing accounts in this Chamber of the experiences in Members’ local communities—the situation with wild birds is awful. Of course, officials and I are constantly in dialogue with those organisations, but the truth is that in the wild bird population there is not much we can do about it.”

Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:

“The stricter measures brought in for kept birds are a necessary evil. This is hard enough on farmers and others who keep birds but the wider risk to wild populations cannot be underestimated, as we saw particularly vividly during the outbreak in 2022. 

“Both local people involved with bird keeping and the government must be vigilant about the actions needed to protect birds and indeed people. Biosecurity measures remain the first line of defence. While there is not a great deal we can do to prevent the disease spreading in wild populations, it points to how important proper funding for the Animal and Plant Health Agency really is going forward.”