Animal Services staff have been working hard due to a bird flu outbreak affecting birds, especially geese, and want to convey a message to city residents. Reykjavík Animal Services will handle services for this throughout the capital area in cooperation with the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority.
People asked to report sick or dead birds
Capital area residents who notice dead or sick birds should not handle them but contact Animal Services immediately. You can call Animal Services from 9am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends at 822 7820 or email dyr@reykjavik.is.
Please provide a good description of the birds' location and, if possible, send photos. If you notice distressed or dead birds outside Animal Services' hours, please contact Reykjavík Metropolitan Police.
Take good care of domestic cats and dogs
Reykjavík Animal Services supports advice from veterinarians and Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority experts to keep domestic cats indoors while this severe flu passes, as it is highly contagious and can infect cats as well as birds. If cats need to be outdoors, it's recommended to keep them on a leash. Dog owners should ensure their dogs don't come into contact with bird carcasses, although no confirmed transmissions to dogs are known at this point.
Important role of Animal Services
Reykjavík Animal Services staff have worked closely with Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority experts in recent months. Last month, they took about 40 blood samples from birds suspected of being infected with this severe bird flu. In recent days, they have received numerous reports of sick or dead birds, which they have attended to.