Could control of wild bird populations help prevent the spread of Asian lineage HPAI H5N1?
The World Health Organisation and UN Food & Agriculture Organisation have stated that the control of H5N1 by culling of wild birds is not feasible. Culling of wild birds will not help prevent the spread of H5N1, rather disturbance to birds from culling activity could help spread the virus by dispersing any infected birds. Similarly, destruction of wetland habitats is not only undesirable, but would be ineffective as a means of controlling HPAI in wild bird populations. Many governments around the world, including all EU Member States, have agreed, through their international commitments to bird conservation, that they will not cull wild birds in an attempt to control H5N1. Defra has stated that it will not issue licenses for killing wild birds to control the spread of HPAI H5N1.
