Avian influenza

This information provides advice on how to keep yourself safe from avian influenza if:

• an outbreak of the virus were to occur in Aotearoa in the future
• you are travelling to a country that is known to have animals or people infected with avian influenza. 

Symptoms of avian influenza include:

• a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery
• aching muscles
• headache
• a cough or shortness of breath
• runny poos (diarrhoea)
• stomach pain
• chest pain
• bleeding from the nose or gums 
• eye or eyelid redness and swelling (conjunctivitis).

People with avian influenza infection are likely to need hospital care. Antiviral treatment (medicine) may be offered.

Who is at risk 

If avian influenza is found in animals in Aotearoa, anyone who has direct exposure or close contact with infected birds or other animals, dead or alive, may be at risk. People that may have a higher chance of coming into contact with infected birds or animals include:

• bird owners (including poultry, pigeons, birds of prey, waterfowl, and pet birds)
• people who work at or visit zoos, animal sanctuaries and recovery centres, breeding centres, and agricultural shows
• hunters, campers, trampers and recreational fishers
• hobby or lifestyle farmers and lifestyle block owners
• people collecting or using bones, feathers or other parts of animals for ngā toi Māori (Māori arts and crafts) or any customary use.

People who are more likely to get very sick if they were to get avian influenza include:

• young tamariki (children)
• older people
• those who are pregnant or have given birth in the 6 weeks before they were infected
• those who have a weakened immune system.

In Aotearoa New Zealand

If you are going tramping, camping, hunting, walking dogs near bird colonies, or going anywhere where you may be exposed to wild birds or marine mammals (for example, seals, walruses, sea lions) there are things you should do.

• If you see 3 or more sick or dead wild birds in a group, report it immediately to the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66
• If possible, do not touch or handle wild birds or marine mammals, or their droppings, particularly if they are sick or dead. Do not allow tamariki, dogs or other animals to go near or handle sick or dead birds, or marine mammals. This is because they can carry diseases that cause illness in people. 
• Maintain good hand hygiene. Wash your hands either with soap and running water, or use alcohol hand rubs often and thoroughly — especially before and after contact with animals and their environment.
• Do not collect eggs, harvest birds, or assist with culling in areas where avian influenza outbreaks are occurring. 
• Do not collect or use bones and feathers for ngā toi Māori or any customary use in areas where avian influenza outbreaks are occurring. 

If you need to touch a sick wild bird

If you need to touch a sick wild bird, it is recommended that you follow these steps to reduce your risk of catching an illness.

• Keep the bird outside — do not bring it into your house or an enclosed space. 
• Wear clothing that will stop you being injured by scratches or bites (trousers and long sleeves).
• Wear personal protective equipment such as disposable gloves (or other gloves, ideally covered by a plastic bag if disposable gloves are not available) and eye protection, for example goggles and glasses). If possible, wear a well-fitted medical face mask that covers your nose and mouth.
• If you decide to take the bird to a vet, animal welfare organisation or someone else who you think can help, phone ahead and follow their instructions about bringing the bird to them.
• If you need to take the bird in a vehicle, put it as far away from you as possible in a secure ventilated box if you have one (for example, a cardboard box with breathing holes poked in the top and sides), and keep the windows open while you travel. 

When you no longer need to have contact with the bird you should:

• wash your clothing and eye protection after use with detergent, and then dry your clothes on a high heat
• dispose of gloves and any other disposable items that may have been contaminated by the bird by putting them in a plastic bag (and not letting the items touch the outside of the bag), tying or sealing the bag and then placing it in your outdoor rubbish bin
• clean any surfaces that have or may have been contaminated by the bird using disinfectant cleaning products or disinfectant wipes.

Disposal of wild dead birds

This guidance is as advised by Ministry for Primary Industries, and adapted from United Kingdon Health Security Agency avian influenza (public sector information licensed under the Open Government License v3.0).

If you choose to dispose of a dead wild bird in your household rubbish, you should:

• pick it up wearing disposable gloves or a plastic bag over your hand
• put the bird in another plastic bag, making sure the bird does not touch the outside of the bag, and then tie it 
• put the bag with the bird in it in a second (preferably leak proof) plastic bag, along with the gloves or plastic bag you used to pick the bird up with (taking care not to touch the outside of these items with your bare hands), and then tie the bag
• put the tied bag in your outdoor rubbish bin 
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. 

If you choose to bury a wild dead bird, you should:

• not bury it near any natural sources of water (for example, stream, river, lake or ocean) or where it could contaminate local water supplies
• wear disposable gloves or use a plastic bag if you need to pick up the bird
• dig a hole at least 60cm deep to stop animals digging it up, then cover the bird with all removed earth
• not bury it in a plastic bag
• if you used gloves or a plastic bag to pick up the dead bird, put the used items inside another plastic bag (taking care not to touch the outside of these items with your bare hands), tie the bag and dispose of it in your outdoor rubbish bin
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.  

Food safety

Before you travel overseas

If you are travelling overseas, check the health advice for each country you are visiting on the Safe Travel website, and check you are up to date with your immunisations.

Travel advisories by destination — Safe Travel (external link)

If you are travelling to areas affected by avian influenza, you should do these things.

• Avoid farms and live animal markets, entering areas where animals may be slaughtered, or surfaces that appear contaminated with animal poos (faeces) or other materials.
• Avoid close contact with wild or domesticated birds.

You should also follow good food safety and food hygiene practices including:

• washing your hands if you handle birds and uncooked poultry products such as meat or eggs
• make sure that meat, poultry or poultry products are cooked thoroughly before eating
• not drinking raw (unpasteurised) milk.

If you feel unwell after travelling overseas, tell your healthcare provider about your travel history, including any exposure to birds or other sick animals.

To report concerns about potential emergency animal diseases

Call the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66

To contact your local public health service

Contact details for regional and local public health services delivered by the National Public Health Service of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora are on the Health New Zealand website. 

Public health contacts — Health New Zealand (external link)

Resources for specific occupational and recreational groups

The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have  information on preventing the spread of avian influenza in specific settings: