[Louise Gaunt]

But the BBC are still leading on the risk to humans. Minor mention of DEFRA restrictions but no details - another missed opportunity to get the message out to all poultry keepers in my view, but then in my view the BBC gave up any pretence about being a public service broadcaster a long time ago.

[Penninehillbilly]

I think google earth is showing symbols of where outbreaks are, not sure if it's just picking up on my searching, but when I put 'pilling lancashire' it shows a symbol there and at Preston, i wonder if computer labels nearest major town as well? (Same birds in Gloucester as at the nearby Slimbridge), also wild birds at merseyside

[ColinS]

Not sure if I posted a link to this one before:-

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/16/7/09-0389_article

Interesting tentative suggestion about different spread mechanisms for LPAI and HPAI.

Here is an article from the Sun (not perhaps the highest authority but still)...

https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2720987/global-spread-of-bird-flu-reaches-unprecedented-levels-raising-the-risk-of-a-human-outbreak/

in which some specialist again talking about spread by aerosol - “aerosol transmission from one infected barn to others, in some cases many miles away”. If he is right biosecurity requires air-tight barns with filtered inflow (and if you are being picky about containment, outflows) - not trivial to arrange.

[Polyanya]

I'm just astonished at how many of my neighbours are letting their birds free range and just because we are near a public road, although very quiet, we feel we have to keep ours in. The risks in Shetland are minimal but I can't risk being fined!

[harmony]

Here is an article from the Sun (not perhaps the highest authority but still)...

https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2720987/global-spread-of-bird-flu-reaches-unprecedented-levels-raising-the-risk-of-a-human-outbreak/

in which some specialist again talking about spread by aerosol - “aerosol transmission from one infected barn to others, in some cases many miles away”. If he is right biosecurity requires air-tight barns with filtered inflow (and if you are being picky about containment, outflows) - not trivial to arrange.

That would be the one with a picture of turkeys and underneath mentions the outbreak at the pheasant hatchery. 

[ColinS]

Be fair - thanks to it being by a female Sun journalist at least it's illustrated by something with its own feathers 

[in the hills]

63,000 pheasants, partridges and ducks to be culled as bird flu discovered at a third linked premises in Lancashire.

Check out the 'latest' section at the bottom of the DEFRA page.

[Marches Farmer]

I wonder what, if any, biosecurity measures they had in place?

[harmony]

I guess this will be part of the investigation but as I said in an earlier post the first outbreak in this area was not good. On a major river, very low lying, wet area and fields regularly grazed by hundreds of wild geese and other waterfowl.

[ColinS]

Another article discussing the spread/infection mechanisms of H5Nx viruses.

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2988587/deadly_bird_flu_strains_created_by_industrial_poultry_farms.html

"The virus has switched from binding specifically to receptors in waterfowl intestines to expanding to receptors found in poultry throats. That means the virus is able to infect a broader range of host species, now including the poultry global agribusiness raises in the billions."

Also shows yet again how there is little short of a punch-up going on amongst the scientists in this field.

[pharnorth]

Once 63000 birds have to be culled in one area isn't the plot well and truly lost?

[Marches Farmer]

Another article discussing the spread/infection mechanisms of H5Nx viruses.
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2988587/deadly_bird_flu_strains_created_by_industrial_poultry_farms.html
"The virus has switched from binding specifically to receptors in waterfowl intestines to expanding to receptors found in poultry throats. That means the virus is able to infect a broader range of host species, now including the poultry global agribusiness raises in the billions."
Also shows yet again how there is little short of a punch-up going on amongst the scientists in this field.

Interesting ... and also the point about intensive production providing a continuous supply of young, immunologically naïve birds for the virus to infect.

[madchickenlady]

One of my hens got out this morning, my fault, turned my back for a moment and she fly jumped the barrier. Got her back in after about ten minutes of chasing her round the garden  but bang goes the bio security!

[Dave C]

I bet it's happened to everyone here one or twice!!!!

[madchickenlady]

  shan't beat myself up about it then!