The further outbreak of Avian flu in East Anglia prompts me to remind you of previous advice which you may find to be helpful at this time.
Full information about the current outbreak including a map of the Protection, Surveillance and Restriction zones is available on
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/latest-situation/index.htm
This is updated regularly. There is full information on this web site about restrictions of movements of poultry and biosecurity arrangements.
There is a Defra helpline which can be used by poultry keepers who are worried and need further infromation; also to report dead birds including wild gulls, waders, ducks, geese or swans; groups of dead birds and to provide advice on Avian flu for anyone who is concerned:
[for calls relating to Avian Flu, Bluetongue or Foot and Mouth the Helpline is available 8am to 8pm Mon-Fri and 9am to 5pm Sat-Sun.]
The Rural Officers Team is available to provide back up to local pastoral ministry to those who are anxious. Contact details are available in the Year Book or the Diocesan Rural Officer for details of the local contacts.
The Farming Help organisations are available to provide help and support to those who are anxious or affected. .
The Farm Crisis Network, particularly, has a Helpline staffed by volunteers available from 7am – 11pm every day and with an answer phone available outside those hours Callers are put in touch with local volunteers. You can also phone me direct, in my capacity as SE Coordinator of FCN. FCN can help keepers of small flocks as well as the large producers.
FCN Helpline: 7am – 11pm 0845 367 9990
Volunteers on this Helpline can also put callers in touch with the other Farming help organisations.
How you can help locally
- Be aware that there will be people concerned by a possible outbreak of avian flu -it can affect people who keep a few chickens in the back garden as well as the large commercial producers.
- Help people be informed. The Defra website is updated regularly, and is a source of much information about the virus.
- Make the Helpline numbers available. The Farming Help numbers can be put in obvious places in churches/newsletters/bulletins.
- Advertise the new DEFRA line to report suspicious dead birds.
- Reassure people that, so far, that there is no evidence to suggest the strain of virus concerned can generally be passed from human to human. However there is a very small risk that it can be passed from bird to human, so encourage people to be aware of the biosecurity issues when and if it becomes necessary
- Continue to eat eggs and other poultry! There is no evidence yet of danger to human beings from eating chicken, pheasant etc. or eggs. There is some concern that a downturn in consumer demand for these products will affect the poultry industry which is worth £1.6billion to the British economy, and which employs thousands of people from those who rear birds to those who process them for the table! One way of showing support to the farming community would be to visit your local Farmers Market speak to stallholders and buy from them! Remember the diocesan Synod passed a resolution in June 2007 urging churches to support the local farming community by using local produce alongside Fair trade products at church events.
- Encourage people not to panic at this stage, but to be informed.
A prayer about Avian Flu
Heavenly Father, you are the creator of the world, through you all things have their being, in you we live and move. In the world we sometimes face dangers which threaten our health and our prosperity. Give us we pray, the benefit of your Holy Spirit that our response to the present danger of Avian Flu may be sufficient, wise, timely and effective. We pray for those whose livelihood is threatened by the danger of Avian Flu, and for those who are anxious or afraid at this time. In the name of your Son, our redeemer, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen
It is as well to remember that east Berkshire in our Diocese is still in the at risk zone for foot and mouth and the whole of the diocese is within the risk zone for Blue Tongue disease. Full updates about the current situation can be found on the Defra website
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/default.htm
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/index.htm
The latest briefing from the Arthur Rank Centre is also on the web site and will be updated as the updates become available. This contains further prayers for use at this time.
Revd Canon Glyn Evans, Diocesan Rural Officer
