24 February 2006
Councils were on standby this week for the long-awaited outbreak of bird flu as the virus came closer to UK borders.
Preparations have been in hand since warnings began last year, with local authorities ensuring animal disease contingency plans are in place. Now, council leaders are trying to reassure the public after the disease was discovered in France.
Local Government Association chair Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart urged the public not to panic and reminded people that steps were being taken to protect them.
'From the countryside rangers on the south coast keeping an eye out for infected birds, to the inspectors at poultry markets, council staff are keeping a continual eye on the situation,' he added.
North Yorkshire County Council formulated a poultry disease action plan in September. Animal health and welfare officer Andy Robson told Public Finance that lessons had been learned from the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak and that the council would not be caught unawares.
'It's still an unknown factor,' Robson said. 'We don't know when and where [bird flu is] going to hit but we're as confident as we ever can be.'
The authority has set up a call centre to handle enquiries, and arranged training for staff. The council also has a voluntary registration scheme for 'backyard keepers', who own fewer than 50 birds.
Owners of small flocks are not obliged to register with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs because larger flocks are more likely to spread the disease.
A spokesman for West Sussex County Council, meanwhile, said contingency measures would be activated if there were any suspected cases of avian flu in their area.
'Our emergency planning unit is on 24-hour standby to ensure it is business as usual for county council services in the event of a catastrophe,' he said.
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