CHAPTER III

SUSPECTED OUTBREAKS

Measures to be applied on holdings where outbreaks are suspected
Article 7
1
In the case of a suspected outbreak, the competent authority shall immediately set in motion an investigation to confirm or exclude the presence of avian influenza in accordance with the diagnostic manual and place the holding under official surveillance. The competent authority shall also ensure that the measures provided for in paragraphs 2 and 3 are complied with.
2
The competent authority shall ensure that the following measures are applied on the holding:
a
poultry, other captive birds and all mammals of domestic species are counted or, if appropriate, their numbers estimated by the type of poultry or species of other captive bird;
b
a list is compiled of the approximate number of poultry, other captive birds and all mammals of domestic species already sick, dead or likely to be infected in each category on the holding; that list shall be updated daily to take account of hatchings, births and deaths throughout the period of the suspected outbreak and shall be produced on request to the competent authority;
c
all poultry and other captive birds are brought inside a building on their holding and kept there. Where this is impractical or if their welfare is compromised they are confined in some other place on the same holding such that they do not have contact with other poultry or other captive birds on other holdings. All reasonable steps are taken to minimise their contact with wild birds;
d
no poultry or other captive birds may enter or leave the holding;
e
no carcases of poultry or other captive birds, meat of poultry including offal (‘poultry meat’), poultry feed (‘feed’), utensils, materials, waste, droppings, poultry or other captive birds manure (‘manure’), slurry, used litter or anything likely to transmit avian influenza may leave the holding without an authorisation from the competent authority, observing appropriate biosecurity measures such as to minimise any risk of the spread of avian influenza;
f
no eggs may leave the holding;
g
the movement of persons, mammals of domestic species, vehicles and equipment to or from the holding is subject to the conditions and authorisation of the competent authority;
h
appropriate means of disinfection are used at the entrances and exits of buildings housing poultry or other captive birds and of the holding itself in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority.
3
The competent authority shall ensure that an epidemiological inquiry is carried out in accordance with Article 6 (‘the epidemiological inquiry’).
4
Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the competent authority may provide for the submission of samples in other cases. In such circumstances the competent authority may proceed without adopting some or all of the measures referred in paragraph 2.