Avian Influenza has once again been quite widespread in the UK this winter. We rely on your submissions of dead birds for the scheme but would like to remind contributors about how to handle and submit birds safely.
Safety Advice to PBMS Contributors
As you may be aware, Avian Influenza is currently present in both wild and captive birds in the UK. Public health advice is that the risk to human health from the four strains of the virus present in the UK is very low.
However, as an additional precaution, the PBMS is emphasising that good hygiene should be practised when handling birds that you wish to submit to the scheme. Please double bag the bird as soon as possible, and also ensure you wash your hands thoroughly after handling the bird. In addition, if you are happy to do so and are able to freeze the bird away from your food, then please continue to do so. Otherwise please store the bird somewhere cold prior to packing and posting of the bird. We’ll try and get a submission pack to you as soon as possible.
More information about avian influenza can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu