§ Mr. John E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received about recent outbreaks of fowl pest among some species of game birds and wild birds; what steps he is taking to investigate and check the spread of this disease; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartOutbreaks of fowl pest among game birds are notifiable only if they are in contact with domestic poultry. Outbreaks among wild birds are not notifiable. I have however received reports indicating heavy mortality particularly among pheasants in East Anglia. Disease has also been diagnosed in a kestrel and in owls and partridges. Ministry officers advise on the disposal of infected birds and recommend the vaccination of game birds in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.
There is no evidence at all that wild birds or game birds have been infected by live vaccine; in those cases where we have carried out post-mortems the virus identified has invariably been the same as that causing the disease in poultry generally and not the vaccinal strain. The Hitchener B1 strain of vaccine has-very low diffusibility, and it does not spread readily from one bird to another even within a poultry house. Waste products from infected poultry houses are required to be disinfected, and vigilance is exercised by my officials to check that this is complied with.