Swedish authorities urge halt to wild bird feeding for three weeks

Sweden’s National Veterinary Institute (SVA) has called on the public to stop feeding small wild birds for three weeks to curb the spread of a bacterial disease affecting blue tits and other species.

The agency reports a sharp rise in sick and dead birds this spring, with blue tits the hardest hit. Officials believe the pause in feeding will reduce transmission by preventing birds from gathering at feeders, where close contact accelerates the spread of infection.

“At this time of year, they can find food in nature,” said deputy state veterinarian Karin Olofsson-Sannö in an interview with public broadcaster SVT. “We should avoid bringing them together.”

Since the SVA issued its initial alert on Wednesday, reports of sick or dead birds have “increased enormously,” according to the agency. The cause of the sudden spread remains unclear, though officials say public reports are helping track the outbreak’s scale.

“We truly appreciate the response we’ve received,” Olofsson-Sannö stated on the SVA website. “It helps us better understand the disease’s distribution.”