The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
Transbound Emerg Dis. 2011 Feb;58(1):69-75. doi: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2010.01183.x. Epub 2010 Nov 23.
During Avian Influenza outbreaks in England, the 'AI Order' states that a poultry keeper may be required to keep domestic birds separate from wild birds. This study aimed to assess a) how effectively this was done and b) the negative impact this had for bird owners and animal welfare during the November 2007 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak in Suffolk, UK. A voluntary questionnaire was posted to holdings (n=296) that were within 10 km of an infected premises; these holdings were required to separate domestic and wild birds where possible. Holdings were identified during outbreak investigations conducted by the authorities. Holdings of all sizes were included. A sample of holdings received a follow-up visit or telephone call to validate the questionnaire (n=29). From the 38% of eligible holdings that responded, 13% (95% CI 7-22%) left their birds outdoors throughout the outbreak. If game birds were excluded, 9% (CI 4-17%) of holdings did not house their birds. Major cost and welfare problems were rare; however, there were exceptions. Enforced housing was often relaxed before a minor welfare problem deteriorated. Contact between wild and domestic birds was greatly reduced during the outbreak, resulting in a reduced probability of HPAI transmission via wild birds for most, but not all, holdings.
在英格兰的禽流感爆发期间，“AI 命令”规定家禽饲养者可能需要将家禽与野鸟分开。本研究旨在评估：a) 这一措施实施的有效性；b) 在 2007 年 11 月英国萨福克郡高致病性禽流感（HPAI）爆发期间，这一措施对鸟类饲养者和动物福利产生的负面影响。一份自愿调查问卷被寄给了位于受感染场所 10 公里范围内的饲养场（n=296）；这些饲养场被要求尽可能将家禽和野鸟分开。饲养场是在当局进行的疫情调查中确定的。所有规模的饲养场都被包括在内。对收到问卷的饲养场进行了抽样回访或电话回访以验证问卷（n=29）。在有资格回复的 38%的饲养场中，有 13%（95%置信区间 7-22%）在整个疫情期间将其鸟类留在户外。如果不包括猎鸟，那么 9%（CI 4-17%）的饲养场没有将其鸟类圈养起来。重大成本和福利问题很少见；然而，也有例外。在轻微福利问题恶化之前，强制隔离往往会被放宽。在疫情期间，野鸟与家禽之间的接触大大减少，这降低了大多数（但并非所有）饲养场的野鸟传播 HPAI 的可能性。
