Wild birds infected with H5N1 avian influenza have been found in Helsinki, said the City of Helsinki in a press release on Monday.
Birds infected with avian influenza have been found in Kallio in Helsinki in January and the disease has been confirmed in one Mute Swan and three Canada geese.
The city said that the risk of human infection is low, but contact with bird secretions and dead birds should be avoided.
Poultry owners are advised to protect their birds from contact with wild birds.
A symptomatic swan in Tokoinranta was taken to the Korkeasaari Zoo’s wildlife hospital to be euthanised, and the other birds were found dead in Eläintarhanlahti Bay.
The virus has been confirmed as H5N1 strain of avian influenza, causing high mortality in wild birds and poultry. The risk of human infection from H5N1 avian influenza is low.
To prevent the spread of the avian influenza virus, Finland has an annual ban on keeping poultry outdoors from 8 February to 31 May.
During this period, poultry and other birds must be protected from contact with wild birds.
Although this ban is not yet in force for this year, bird keepers are now urged to exercise special caution.
During the ban on keeping birds outdoors, birds must be kept indoors or their outdoor area must be protected with a sufficiently dense net.
Keeping birds outdoors in Helsinki must be reported to the supervising veterinarian of the City of Helsinki’s Environmental Services.
Poultry farmers should also closely follow information on the avian influenza situation provided by the Finnish Food Authority, the press release added.
- Avian flu
- Detected
- Helsinki
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
