Ministry assurance over school aviaries

The Education Ministry said the necessary action would be taken with regard to poultry and other birds kept in schools in the event of an avian influenza outbreak.

"The Agriculture Department would be asked to take the necessary steps," a ministry spokesman said. Depending on the situation this could include culling or isolating the birds. One did not want to cull the birds unnecessarily, he added.

Parents of girls attending Marija Regina Junior Lyceum, in Blata l-Bajda, voiced concern that hens and pigeons kept in an aviary in the school grounds could pose a health hazard, especially in view of a possible bird flu outbreak. The school's aviary houses 23 hens and 29 doves.

Mireille Vella, from the Food and Veterinary Division, said heads of school had been taking an interest in the issue for quite some time and many had contacted the division for information. The heads were being urged to register the birds.

The ministry spokesman said the head of Marija Regina, Maria Debono, had started taking steps in August. "She spoke to the government vets and asked whether the birds posed a health hazard. She was told this was not the case because the birds could not leave the aviary and only one person could get in."

The spokesman said the school had taken some extra precautions. The person who takes care of the birds wears protective clothing and is disinfected before going out. The place was cleaned daily and all the birds were being registered.

The birds, he said, were kept as part of the school's animal awareness programme aimed at teaching students to love and respect animals. The school keeps two ponies as well.

With all the attention being paid to bird flu and a possible influenza pandemic, the spokesman said parents also needed to keep the annual influenza in mind.

A student who went to school with a cold or was suffering from influenza posed a health hazard to other students.

Parents, he said, were urged to be on the look-out for certain symptoms and, after seeking medical advice, keep their children indoors.

Razzett tal-Hbiberija chief executive officer Nathan Farrugia said yesterday waterfowl and other birds kept at the park did not pose a health hazard.

He said fears of bird flu had sparked a number of cancellations of visits from schools. He said a full-time expert took care of the birds and kept his eyes open for any unusual deaths.

The birds had all been registered and there was no cause for alarm, he added.