As my urgent work on the serious Bird Flu crisis continues and I provide support to our local farmers and poultry businesses, as well as highlight my shared concern with conservationists about the enormous potential impacts upon our local wild bird populations, I welcomed the opportunity to be involved in an important briefing with Dr Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, earlier this morning. 

Dr Middlemiss helpfully explained why our region is being so harshly impacted, outlining that migratory birds making their way down from Russia and Northern Europe are carrying a new, particularly “active” (infectious) strain of the Bird Flu virus, landing here in East Anglia first before continuing on through other parts of the UK and then beyond. As these migratory birds infect local wild bird populations, our native species sometimes then come into contact and infect our captive and indoor bird populations – which, given the high concentration of poultry businesses here in our area, has resulted in the largest such crisis the UK has ever seen (with a significant spike since October 1st). 

I am acutely aware of the huge importance the poultry and wider bird sectors play in our local economy and, as someone that has grown up and lived in East Anglia for much of their life with a deep connection to nature, I am very conscious of the fears local conservationists have in relation to local bird populations. 

That’s why I am working so hard on this and why I appreciated learning more about the measures being taken by the UK. 

As I highlighted yesterday (see here), I recognise the importance of the step taken that requires, from next week, all captive birds and poultry to be kept indoors. However, as Dr Middlemiss emphasised, this must only be one measure taken.  

“Housing” birds is not a panacea. While key, it will ultimately be undermined if greater measures are not taken by farmers and producers, as well as members of the public, to improve biosecurity – not just farm to farm, but actually shed to shed.  

I was told that the UK is actively working with partners internationally too in order to pool resources, share and enhance research, and best coordinate the global response to this new strain of Bird Flu. 

Colleagues echoed the concerns that many have raised with me locally about the compensation scheme and the lack of vaccination of bird flocks too. While some positive steps have been taken on compensation, I welcomed the news that DEFRA ministers and officials continue to constantly review the scheme in place and discussions are ongoing as to how best local businesses can be protected. Conversations are also ongoing between the international community around the possible changing of policy to allow future vaccination against strains of Bird Flu too – and I am pleased to hear that the UK is a key contributor to that discussion. 

Rest assured, I will continue to do my upmost to support local businesses and conservationists, and am delighted that ministers are treating this crisis with the seriousness it deserves. The statement by the Food Minister in the House today is helpful.  

To see the letter I have already sent the new Secretary of State at DEFRA, please click here.

To stay up to date with all of my work on this issue, including previous webstories, please visit my farming and the environment campaign page here.

To see the recent EDP article in which I feature, please click here.