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There are many factors that can make a farm susceptible to Avian Influenza, but one key observation is the level of activity on the unit. Farms with minimal movement, such as some broiler growers where buildings are effectively sealed and only short welfare checks occur, tend to have lower risk. In contrast, duck, goose, and turkey operations require more frequent shed entry, bedding top ups, and staff movement. This extra activity can lead to poorer surfaces, vermin issues, and more opportunities for the virus to survive, increasing the risk of an outbreak. Even with strong biosecurity, a very small amount of virus can start an infection, so consistency and rigour in all measures is essential. 

 Current research by the BTO is tracking corvids in real time. These birds are known to gather around outdoor pig units but will also visit nearby poultry units. This behaviour could pose a real risk for Salmonella transmission. 

This varies over the season. At certain times, when dead wild birds are collected and tested, around 10 to 20% may test positive. At peak periods, this can rise dramatically to between 75 and 100%

Regardless of your role, everyone has a personal responsibility to maintain biosecurity standards. Follow all protocols and instructions carefully, and speak up if you notice colleagues not fully complying. You should also report any gaps or failings in biosecurity procedures so they can be addressed promptly. 

Avian Influenza is often called the “gift that keeps on giving.” An outbreak can create far-reaching farm, logistical, and personal challenges beyond the loss of your birds, and these costs can quickly add up.

When it comes to insurance, our advice is simple: make sure you understand exactly what is covered and what is not. Knowing the limits of your policy can make all the difference when an outbreak occurs.

The most effective controls focus on keeping the virus out of your poultry buildings — your building is the last line of defence. If the virus can’t get in, it can’t affect your birds.

Key measures include:

• Robust building proofing for vermin and water ingress. 
• Biosecure personnel entry systems. Minimise cross-contamination from the farmyard to the live bird area. 
• Investing in easy-to-use boots and PPE. Simple improvements can dramatically increase compliance.

All widely promoted biosecurity measures have an impact, and a multi-layered, “Swiss cheese” approach — starting at the farm gate — works best. Each layer reduces the chance of the virus breaching your defences.

A properly installed borehole is an extremely low risk. Water comes from significant depth and is naturally filtered through soil, subsoil, and rock, making it unlikely to contain viable AI virus. Borehole water is also typically UV treated before use, and UV treatment effectively kills AI.

The main risk arises if water is stored in leaky, dirty, or exposed header tanks. If water systems were implicated in an outbreak, we would expect to see an even spread of infected birds across a shed or site — but our observations do not support this. In practice, it is usually clear where an infection started.

That said, water quality can be a significant problem in countries where carcass burial is still practiced or allowed.