As with all organisations that are concerned with conservation and the welfare of animals, BIAZA is concerned about the spread of avian influenza H5N1. We are currently working on both the European and UK level, both with Defra and other zoo colleagues, to mitigate against any possible risks.
BIAZA members will have appropriate biosecurity measures in place that may vary depending on the risk at any given time. These biosecurity measures are to minimise the risk of infection to our valuable birds, staff and visitors as their safety is of utmost importance to us.
BIAZA would like to emphasise that the risk of visitors getting avian influenza from any healthy bird, within or outside zoological collections, has been widely agreed as being extremely unlikely and has never been a feature of any of the few human cases anywhere in the world.
In July 2006, the Department of Health carried out a risk assessment on avian influenza in public parks and open waters due to wild bird exposure. The report concludes that there is no excess risk to visitors and that there should be no restrictions on park visiting. For the full report, click here.
While BIAZA member zoos are safe to visit it inadvisable to have close contact with birds or bird faeces. If you are in close contact with birds, it is sensible to take normal hygiene precautions:
Do not touch or go near any sick or dead birds
Wash hands regularly
Avoid hand to mouth and hand to eye contact after exposure to birds
Avoid contact with anything contaminated with bird faeces.
BIAZA would like to reiterate stands made by conservation organisations BirdLife International, RSPB, WWT, BTO ( for joint statement click here ), Wildlife Conservation Society , Convention on Migratory Species and the FAO amongst others that persecution of wild bird populations is not a good way to curtail outbreaks.
Detailed information can be found on the following websites.
Please do note that links provided on this web page are of a third party source and although of reputable source, BIAZA cannot be held liable for any errors.
