How bird flu spreads

The virus spreads through:

• direct contact between infected and healthy birds
• contact with contaminated equipment, cages, vehicles, feed or water
• faeces, saliva or other secretions from infected birds
• people, footwear and clothing carrying the virus between sites.

Wild birds, particularly migratory waterbirds, can carry the virus without showing signs of illness.

Signs of bird flu in poultry and captive birds

Clinical signs of infection with H5 bird flu in birds include:

• sudden death without clinical signs
• lethargy or reluctance to walk, eat or drink
• droopy appearance or ruffled feathers
• purple discolouration or bruising of the wattles, combs and legs
• respiratory signs such as panting, nasal discharge, coughing or sneezing
• swelling around the head and neck, incoordination, inability to walk or stand
• watery or green diarrhoea
• sudden decrease in egg production.

What to do if you suspect bird flu

Early detection is key to minimising the impact of H5 bird flu. Bird flu is a notifiable animal disease, which means you must, by law, report a suspect bird flu case or outbreak.

If you see unusual disease signs, behaviour, or unexplained death in your poultry or kept birds:

• Avoid contact with sick or dead birds or wildlife and their surroundings
• Record what you observe
• Report groups of sick or dead birds immediately to:
  • your schools veterinarian or the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline, by calling 1800 675 888
  • the departments Animal Welfare Coordinator, by emailing AnimalWelfare@det.nsw.edu.au.

Reccomendations to help protect your birds

Advice and what you can do to protect your schools birds and poultry.

Avoid contact with wild birds

Poultry and birds should be housed in a way that does not allow access by any wild birds. This means that small gauge wire netting may need to be used to control entry of wild small birds. Ensure all food and water supplies cannot be accessed by wild birds.

Avoid contact with birds not in your care

Avoid contact with all birds not in your direct care and their surroundings. Seriously consider avoiding attendance at or partcipation in poultry or bird shows.

Restrict access and reduce amount of carers

Minimise the traffic of people into the poultry housing area. This may mean only having specific staff members or students care and manage the welfare of the birds.

The specific staff member or student caring for the birds should:

• not be in contact with other birds, including their own
• use designated footwear that is only worn in the bird housing areas and enclosures
• wash and/or sanitise their hands before and after handling birds and providing routine care
• keep records of any movements of poultry, captive birds or eggs and visitors to the bird housing areas and enclosures
• erect signage indicating limited access to the bird housing areas and enclosures.

Quarantine all new birds

Any new birds should be isolated for 28 days before adding them to your flock. Consider the development of a school biosecurity plan. Biosecurity plan templates are available for schools to use and adapt.