Avian influenza notice: Keeping poultry and captive birds outside is prohibited in the Uusimaa region

Avian influenza is highly pathogenic and easily transmitted from one bird to another. Infected birds spread the virus via airborne transmission and especially through their feces. There is no treatment for avian influenza which is why early identification and effectively preventing the spread of the virus are important.

Avian influenza has especially been detected in black-headed gulls, and gulls tend to spend time on farms. Black-headed gulls are currently moving from the north towards the Southern Finland.

In Espoo, the first avian influenza case of the year was confirmed on 6 September 2023. The infected bird was an European herring gull. The website of the Finnish Food Authority contains a table listing all the confirmed avian influenza cases(external link, opens in a new window).

The Finnish Food Authority has expanded the infected zone due to avian influenza due to influenza findings in wild birds. The infected zone now covers the Uusimaa region.

There are no large poultry farms in Espoo, Kirkkonummi or Kauniainen. However, many people have hobby chickens.

Poultry and captive birds must be protected to indoor facilities or with a dense net in a way that ensures that wild waterfowl, birds of prey, gulls or crows are not able to come in contact with them. Additionally, persons visiting the housing facilities of poultry or captive birds must wear the protective clothing used only in the facility concerned and change their footwear when entering and leaving the facility. It is also important to take care of good hand hygiene by washing or at least disinfecting when entering the facility. Visits by persons to the housing facilities of poultry and captive birds are prohibited if they are not necessary.

The feed and bedding for birds must be stored in such a way that wild birds do not come into contact with them.

If symptoms of avian influenza, abnormal mortality or changes in production are observed in poultry or other birds, the municipal or the provincial veterinarian must be informed immediately. A decline in the consumption of water and feed or in egg production may be a sign of an avian influenza infection. Poultry owners are recommended to closely follow the Food Authority’s updates on the avian influenza situation.

Report all detected mass deaths of wild birds and individual dead birds of prey to the city's veterinarian, who is available during office hours. Outside of office hours you can contact rescue services. A mass death of birds is considered when there are more than five dead waterfowl, more than one dead swan or 10 small birds in the same area.

Although the avian influenza transmission risk to humans is very small, dead birds should not be touched with bare hands. If you have touched a dead bird, you should wash your hands thoroughly with water and soap and disinfect your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Individual dead birds can be buried at a depth of at least 40 cm or disposed of in a plastic bag with mixed waste. You can use disposable gloves or a shovel to place a bird inside a plastic bag. Alternatively, you can pick up the bird with the help of an undamaged plastic bag by touching only the clean outer surface of the plastic bag with your hands. In any case, you should wash your hands afterwards. An individual bird that has died in a remote location can be left as food for decomposers.

Contact information of the authorities:

During office hours The city of Espoo’s veterinarian tel. +358 9 81684458 or elainlaakari@espoo.fi

Outside of office hours The Länsi-Uusimaa Rescue Department tel. +358 29 1512112

Additional information about avian influenza:

The Finnish Food Authority's website on Avian Influnza(external link, opens in a new window)