Avian flu (birds)

Latest situation

There are currently no Avian Influenza cases in Jersey.

Previous outbreaks

In Jersey, most recent outbreaks include:

19 July 2023: Domestic poultry deaths reported in the North East of the Island. The prevention zone was lifted 14 August and the Surveillance zone lifted on 22 August 2023
30 August 2022: Domestic poultry deaths reported in St Lawrence. The Control Zone and the Prevention Zone were lifted on 13 October 2022
13 August 2022: Domestic poultry deaths reported in St Peter. The Control Zone and the Prevention zone were lifted on 13 October 2022
22 February 2022: Captive red-breasted goose death reported in Trinity. The Control Zone was lifted on 21 April 2022 and the Prevention zone was lifted on 9 May 2022

How to spot avian influenza and how it spreads

Signs of avian influenza can vary between bird species. Some species may only show minimal clinical signs, for example, ducks and geese.

The main clinical signs in birds can include:

sudden and rapid increase in the number of birds found dead
several birds affected in the same shed or air space
swollen head
closed and excessively watery eyes
lethargy and depression
recumbency and unresponsiveness
lack of coordination and loss of balance
head and body tremoring
drooping of the wings or dragging of legs
twisting of the head and neck
swelling and blue discolouration of comb and wattles
haemorrhages on shanks of the legs and under the skin of the neck
loss of appetite or marked decrease in feed consumption
sudden increase or decrease in water consumption
respiratory distress such as gaping, mouth breathing, nasal snicking, coughing sound, sneezing, gurgling or rattling
fever or noticeable increase in body temperature
discoloured or loose watery droppings
cessation or marked reduction in egg production

How the disease spreads

The virus is found in faeces, saliva or mucus discharges. It spreads when infected wild birds mix with domestic poultry. Poultry become infected when they eat or inhale the virus. The virus then spreads quickly throughout the flock, and other wild birds in close contact with the poultry can then pick up and spread the virus elsewhere.

The virus can also be spread via objects such as clothing and boots, farming equipment and vehicles.

Report your sick poultry or captive birds

Avian flu is a notifiable disease. If you’re a bird keeper and you suspect disease immediately call +44 (0) 1534 441600 or email rva@gov.je. This includes pet birds, a commercial farm or just a few birds in a backyard flock.

We have a separate form to report dead wild birds.

Biosecurity measures

An effective farm biosecurity policy is the first defence to prevent infection. You should apply these measures at all times and not just during an outbreak to help:

contain the potential spread of disease
prevent lengthy and ongoing housing requirements
keep out other poultry diseases, such as Newcastle Disease
reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases, such as Salmonella
limits the spread of diseases
protect your neighbours, public health, and the countryside
improve overall flock health
cuts costs of disease treatment and reduces bird losses

You should also be considerate of your neighbour's domestic birds as we have a few large-scale poultry farmers on Island and rare bird breeders.

Biosecurity measures include that you:

store any food items and bedding away from wild bird access
feed and water birds indoors or undercover. The virus will spread if wild birds have access to these
make your entire premises unattractive to wild birds by hanging strips of tin foil, shiny party streamers, or Cd’s (old compact discs)
place and regularly refill disinfectant foot dips at poultry and other captive bird housing entrances and exits. The list of Defra-approved disinfectants will show you which product to use, and the concentration of the disinfectant you must use. You can source these disinfectants from local suppliers
place a separate pair of boots at the entrance of the enclosure for use only inside their housing. For further advice watch how not to walk avian influence into your poultry coop on the YouTube link at the bottom of this section
place a boot brush into the foot dip to clean the soles and crevices of mucky boots first so that the disinfectant will be effective in killing the virus from the surface of boots. Soiled foot dips must be regularly replenished
unauthorised visitors to the flock should be kept to a minimum with staff, vehicle and equipment movements between housing also minimised
if vehicles must have access, make sure they are clean, and if equipment is shared, make sure it is cleansed and disinfected before and after use
dedicated protective clothing and washable boots should be provided for those in contact with the birds or their housing and visitors should wash their hands with an effective preparation prior to visiting the birds
buy feed from a mill or supplier that operates in accordance with Defra and Agricultural Industries Confederation Codes of Practice. Supply clean, fresh drinking water
when no restrictions are in place, be careful when buying new stock. Use reputable sources and isolate new birds you have taken onto your premises
remove any spilled feed, litter and standing water to avoid attracting wild birds and vermin, and an effective vermin control program should be in place. Poultry houses also should be in a good state of repair to exclude the entry of wild birds and vermin
maintain a cleaning and disinfecting routine for your bird housing, cages, feed store and pathways leading to and from bird areas
check regularly for any roof leaks which can introduce infection from wild birds - this is the highest risk for housed poultry. The sides of the enclosure must be made of mesh, netting or a solid material so that wild birds cannot enter
when housing is required, completely cover your birds' enclosures and runs must with a solid or impermeable roof so that wild bird faeces cannot enter
when housing is required, provide and maintain perches, nesting boxes, dust baths, jungle gyms (for example, ladders, bridges, swings), and food enrichment (for example, hanging vegetables, treat balls, puzzle feeders)

Many other diseases can spread by direct bird to bird contact, through secretions and faeces, and indirectly through contaminated food or equipment. Seek advice from your vet if you’re not sure about what to do.

In case of an outbreak, you must follow the rules of the Control Zones and Prevention Zone.

Biosecurity advice on GOV.UK

Advice on housing your birds to help prevent avian influenza on YouTube

Poultry keeper biosecurity checklist

Department surveillance for wild birds

Through our surveillance programme we monitor and test unusual death in wild birds for avian influenza. This helps us evaluate risk of avian influenza infection in the wild bird population and give us early warnings of disease.

The surveillance programme cannot be used as an indication of the level of infection, presence or death in wild birds.

If we receive confirmation that a species is infected at a specific location, we do not carry further testing for several weeks of that species at the same location. This is because the risk level is unlikely to change for birds in this area.

Find data on the surveillance in the following reports.

Avian influenza in wild birds 2024

Avian influenza in wild birds 2023

Avian influenza in wild birds 2022

Wild birds can carry a range of diseases and injuries. If you find dead wild birds on your property follow the advice for the public.

Report dead wild birds

Report dead wild birds you see using the following form. The dead birds’ bodies need to be fresh to allow us to test for disease.

We're still interested in monitoring the following species and numbers. Only report:

1 or more dead owl or bird of prey
3 or more dead wildfowl (swans, geese, ducks), seabirds, and gulls within close proximity of each other
5 or more dead birds of any species within close proximity of each other

Report a dead wild bird

Your information will be used and stored in line with our Animal Health and Welfare's Privacy Policy.

Advice for the public

You should not move or touch a bird’s carcase before you report a dead wild bird.

When dead wild birds are found on public land, we’ll contact the relevant team to collect them. If the birds are on your private property and are not needed for our surveillance, you’ll need to dispose of the birds.

How to safely dispose of dead birds

If you find dead birds on your property and they are not needed for surveillance, you’ll need to dispose of the birds yourself:

use protective gloves when you need to pick-up or handle dead or sick birds on your property. If you do not have protective gloves, use a leak-proof plastic bag as a makeshift glove
you should place the first bag and any gloves you use, in a second leak-proof plastic bag so it’s double bagged. Then you should tie the bag and dispose of it in your normal household waste in a lidded bin outside
you can bury dead birds on your property but not in a plastic bag. The hole must be at least 60 centimetres deep to stop animals from accessing it and scavenging the carcass. It must also be away from any watercourses so it cannot contaminate water supplies

Importing poultry

You need a specific licence to import poultry or hatching eggs into Jersey. Find out more including the requirements on importing poultry and hatching eggs.

Register as a poultry keeper

You should be registered as a poultry keeper even if you only have a few birds. This means we can contact you in the event of an outbreak and help you keep your birds safe.

Find more information on poultry keeper's registration.