Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01..._Analysis.html

Commentary

Analysis of Uva Lake H5N1 Sequences in England

Recombinomics Commentary 20:40
January 10, 2008

The source of this outbreak is to be sought in wild birds; ornithological assessment is anticipated. It will be also of great interest to obtain information on the strain involved, particularly its sequencing results highlighting its genetic profile and its relationship with other recent isolates in the UK, in other European countries, and elsewhere. - Mod.AS

The above ProMed commentary is welcome news. Sequence data can precisely define the H5N1 in the recent wild bird outbreak, as well as the early outbreak in free range turkeys in Engaland. The sequence will almost certainly be the Uva Lake strain, like every reported H5N1 outbreak in Europe since the summer, but these sequences have regional markers, which allow for further subdivisions.

This was easily seen in the early Qinghai Lake strain. The sequence from the whooper swan from the shores of Scotland was closely related to 2006 H5N1 sequences from Denmark, Sweden, and northern Germany. Germany actually had three groupings. In the south, one group matched H5N1 from Switzerland, while a second group was close to isolates from Italy and the Ukraine.

This year, although all are the Uva Lake strain, which link back to a wild bird outbreak at Uva Lake in the summer of 2006, the current series can be readily broken dozen into separate groupings. Three sequences were released from the summer outbreaks in Germany, and each is distinct. Sequences from Krasnodar have also been released and the whooper swan and chicken HA sequences were exact matches. Krasnodar released full sequences of all eight gene segments, and the chicken and whooper swan were 99.95% identical. Recently, Uva Lake HA sequences from Romania were released from three species (chicken, duck, cat) from the late November, 2007 outbreak, and all three sequences were identical.

The sequences from England will be most informative if the other Uva Lake sequences are released from Kuwait, Czech Republic, France, England, Poland, northeastern Germany, Rostov, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh are released. Those in Europe are almost certainly Uva Lake, while those in south Asia are very likely the Uva Lake strain. The recent sequences from South Korea, collected at the end of 2006, were also Uva Lake, and quite distinct from the European sequences (but closer to the European sequences than any H5N1 other than the original Uva Lake sequences).

The sequences precisely map out transport and transmission routes, and the time for release of these sequences, (as well as 2005 and 2006 H5N1 sequences still being hoarded) has long since passed.


.

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=nw20080110221624540C989791

Bird flu kills swans in England <TABLE style="WIDTH: 405px; HEIGHT: 44px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=caption style="WIDTH: 360px">
January 11 2008 at 02:18AM </TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 1px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc" colSpan=2></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=23 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=svarticletext>By Nigel Hunt

London - Britain found the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in three wild swans on Thursday and warned poultry owners to protect their flocks.

The European Commission said the cases at a bird sanctuary in Dorset, southern England, meant the EU's usual control area had been established around the premises.

Within the zone, poultry cannot be moved, except directly to slaughterhouses and the hunting of wild birds is banned.

"While this is obviously unwelcome news we have always said that Britain is at a constant low level of risk of introduction of avian influenza," Fred Landeg, Britain's acting Chief Veterinary Officer, said in a statement.

Britain's first case of the strain was in a wild swan found dead in Cellardyke in Scotland in 2006 and there have subsequently been outbreaks at poultry farms in eastern England, most recently in November 2007.

Nick Blayney, president of the British Veterinary Association, said surveillance played a critical role in tackling the disease.

"In this case vigilance would seem to have enabled the arrival of the disease to have been promptly identified.

"Domestic flock owners, not only in the vicinity but countrywide, are reminded of the need to protect their birds by following biosecurity guidelines... and to continually monitor their birds' health," Blayney said in a statement.

In the latest incident, no disease has been found in domestic birds and a surveillance programme is being carried out in the local wild bird population, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said vigilance was key.

"We will investigate this further but the protection zones are our insurance that we are doing everything in our power to make sure that this disease does not spread," he told BBC news.

Scientists said there could be a link to previous outbreaks in Britain.

"The new detection of H5N1 infected swans in Dorset is not particularly surprising in light of the outbreak in November," said John McCauley of Division Of Virology at the MRC National Institute For Medical Research.

"The H5N1 virus seems to have made its way not only to East Anglia (in eastern England) but now also on the South Coast."

He said there was extensive surveillance of wild birds throughout Europe and an EU report last summer had concluded the H5N1 virus was present even if its detection was not common.

However, one of the most sensitive ways to pick up H5N1 viruses was in surveillance of dead birds, especially swans.

"The swans infected in Dorset are not of a species that undergoes significant migration but it is likely that the mute swans mix with waterfowl from regions in which H5N1 infection is more common," McCauley added.

The ministry has set up control and monitoring areas around the premises where the birds were found. Inside the areas, bird keepers are required to house their birds and isolate them from contact with wild birds while bird shows are banned.

The virulent H5N1 strain has killed more than 210 people worldwide since 2003 and millions of birds had either died from it or been killed to prevent its spread.

In Paris, the head of the world animal health body OIE Bernard Vallat said the virus had now stabilised but there is still a risk that it could mutate into a new dangerous form.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

January 11, 2008


Protection zone set up as deadly bird flu found at swan reserve



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<!-- Print Author name associated with the article --><!-- Print Author name from By Line associated with the article -->Valerie Elliott, Countryside Editor


<!-- END: Module - M24 Article Headline with landscape image (d) --><!-- Article Copy module --><!-- BEGIN: Module - Main Article --><!-- Check the Article Type and display accordingly--><!-- Print Author image associated with the Author--><!-- Print the body of the article--><!-- Pagination --><!--Display article with page breaks -->Three dead swans that were found in a bird sanctuary in Dorset had the deadly avian flu virus H5N1, it was confirmed yesterday.

The virus had been circulating in British birds for more than two weeks and may already be endemic in the wild bird population, experts have said. Tests are under way at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, Surrey, to establish just how long the virus has been present in the mute swans from Abbotsbury.

The Times has learnt that one of the birds that was submitted to the agency by the swannery for routine testing was found dead on December 27, just over two weeks ago. The bird was put into cold storage. A second bird was found injured on December 30 and was also placed in storage. A third swan was found on January 4, but it was not until Monday that they were sent for testing.

Health chiefs appealed for calm and reminded the public that it was extremely difficult for humans to contract the virus, but 12 staff at the swannery have been given Tamiflu, the antiviral treatment.

The swannery, next to Chesil Beach, a tourist attraction, has more than a thousand birds: it is not uncommon for staff to find a dead one. No alarm was raised because large numbers were not affected. At least one of those infected was found with a broken leg. It was humanely killed, but showed no obvious symptoms of any virus.

Staff at the swannery were astonished to learn that the birds were infected with the avian flu virus. January is not a migration period and there has been no cold snap on the Continent to force birds to cross the Channel. The birds at Abbotsbury do not migrate.

Test results are expected today on two more dead swans found near Abbotsbury. Currently there are no plans to cull the other swans at the conservation site. Wild birds are being tested and monitored in a control zone that extends 15 miles southeast of Abbotsbury, in an area includng Weymouth, Chesil Beach and Portland Bill.

Every poultry farm in the area will be inspected but there is no evidence that the virus has infected chickens or turkeys. A ban on shooting wild and game birds is also in place.

Government vets want to establish how long the virus has been in the country and how far it may have spread in wild birds. They are also attempting to discover if there is any link with the flu strain found in turkeys on the Norfolk-Suffolk border in November. One theory for that outbreak was that wild birds, which gathered at an ornamental lake next to an organic farm, had infected the outdoor turkeys.

It is clear that the virus has been in some birds but, until yesterday, had escaped routine surveillance. Sampling of dead and injured birds has been going on for months without positive results. Ornithologists suggest that this means that any infected birds have a low level of the virus and are able to carry it without showing signs of infection.

If experts find that the disease has been circulating in wild birds for nearly three months, owners of free-range and organic poultry farms may be forced to review their business, especially if their birds are reared near where wild birds congregate.

Fred Landeg, the acting Chief Veterinary Officer, said: ?While this is unwelcome news, we have always said that Britain is at a constant low-level of risk of introduction of avian influenza. Our message to all bird keepers is that they must be vigilant, report any signs of disease immediately and practise the highest levels of biosecurity.?

Mark Avery, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: ?If H5N1 was going to arrive in the country then Abbotsbury is a prime location for it to manifest itself. The swans are particularly vulnerable to disease.?

The public have been asked to report any sightings of dead, dying or sick, wild birds to the helpline of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 08549-335577.

This is the second highly pathogenic H5N1 case detected in a wild bird in the British Isles. The previous case was in a swan found in Fife in April 2006.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article3166485.ece

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[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01110802/H5N1_England_Asymptomatic.html

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01...mptomatic.html

Commentary

H5N1 in Asymptomatic Mute Swan in England

Recombinomics Commentary 02:02
January 11, 2008

The Times has learnt that one of the birds that was submitted to the agency by the swannery for routine testing was found dead on December 27, just over two weeks ago. The bird was put into cold storage. A second bird was found injured on December 30 and was also placed in storage. A third swan was found on January 4, but it was not until Monday that they were sent for testing.

At least one of those infected was found with a broken leg. It was humanely killed, but showed no obvious symptoms of any virus.

Staff at the swannery were astonished to learn that the birds were infected with the avian flu virus. January is not a migration period and there has been no cold snap on the Continent to force birds to cross the Channel. The birds at Abbotsbury do not migrate.

Test results are expected today on two more dead swans found near Abbotsbury.

The above comments indicate Defra has found H5N1 in an asymptomatic swan, and it is very likely that most or all of the swans are infected with H5N1.

The surveillance in England has been suspect for some time. Very few birds test positive for avian influenza, which is common in wild birds, and virtually no virus is isolated. When the H5N1 positive whooper swan washed ashore in Scotland in April 2006, no other H5N1 was found. The sequence of the H5N1 was just released, and it was closely related to sequences from northern Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. Thus, although H5N1 was widespread in the area, Defra failed to find any positives beyond the one dead bird.

Similarly, Defra failed to find H7N3 or H7N2 prior to outbreaks on poultry farms in 2006 and 2007 and H5N1 was not found in wild birds after the H5N1 outbreak in Surrey at the end of last year.

These failures were used to create artificially low risk assessments. The outbreaks in Germany, Czech Republic, and France in the summer of 2007 signaled additional outbreaks in the fall / winter, which has been seen in England, Poland, Germany, Krasnodar, Rostov (as well as outbreaks in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt).

The poor monitoring and lowered expectations allowed the H5N1 to silently spread in the mute swans at Abbotsbury, as H5N1 is undoubtedly doing throughout Europe at this time.

H5N1 doesn’t read Defra or OIE press releases.

.

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

Bird flu virus confirmed after deaths at Dorset swannery



? Workers given Tamiflu as vets test more dead birds
? Biosecurity stepped up amid search for source

David Adam and Steven Morris
Friday January 11, 2008
The Guardian


Government vets were last night awaiting the results of tests on more dead birds discovered in southern England, following confirmation that three swans in Dorset had the deadly H5N1 flu strain. The environment department, Defra, said the dead birds had been found at Abbotsbury swannery by routine surveillance, and efforts were under way to discover where the virus came from; the outbreak poses little risk to human health. Swannery staff are being monitored for symptoms and have been given Tamiflu tablets as a precaution.

Fred Landeg, acting chief veterinary officer for the government, said: "While this is obviously unwelcome news, we have always said that Britain is at a constant low-level risk of introduction of avian influenza. Our message to all bird keepers, particularly those in the area, is that they must be vigilant, report any signs of disease immediately, and practise the highest levels of biosecurity."

An area around the swannery has been set up where owners must isolate flocks from wild birds, though no disease has been found in domestic birds; surveillance of wild birds is to be increased. Defra said there were no plans to cull wild flocks as this might disperse birds. Results from tests on two more dead wild birds found nearby are due over the weekend. Government vets are also testing 800 other swans at the Abbotsbury reserve.
The outbreak comes less than a month after restrictions on poultry movement were lifted in Norfolk and Suffolk that had been imposed after an outbreak of H5N1 on a free range turkey farm in November. The National Farmers' Union said it was monitoring the situation closely.
Wild birds are the likely source of infection, but Andre Farrar of the RSPB said: "It is slightly odd that it's happened at this time of year. It's not a migration period." One possibility was that the virus had been brought to the region some time ago, but only recently infected the birds.
Colin Butter, of the Institute for Animal Health, said: "The finding of H5N1 in swans in Dorset is consistent with the results of investigations following the November outbreak in turkeys. These suggested that farmed birds were infected from migratory wildfowl ... they will have been in close contact with migratory species."
The swannery, a tourist attraction close to Chesil beach, claims to be the only managed colony of mute swans in the world; it was established by Benedictine monks in the 11th century.
Celebrity cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who keeps a flock of chickens and other game birds at his River Cottage HQ in West Dorset, said: "Bird flu is a serious matter and I know that everyone who keeps poultry in the area will be very concerned about the risk of finding it."
Backstory On October 21 2005, British authorities confirmed that a parrot from Surinam had died of bird flu in Essex. The virus was later confirmed to be the lethal H5N1 strain, but the bird was in quarantine so the UK's disease-free status was not affected. In April 2006, a dead swan in Cellardyke, on the Fife coast, was found to be infected and a protection zone was set up. Two weeks later, chickens at Witford Lodge farm, near Norwich, also tested positive and 35,000 were slaughtered. Another outbreak struck in January last year, when turkeys on a Bernard Matthews farm in Suffolk died in suspicious circumstances. The state veterinary service was contacted and the entire 159,000-bird flock was culled in the first H5N1 outbreak among British poultry since 1991. Last November, all 5,000 poultry at Redgrave Park farm on the Norfolk-Suffolk border were slaughtered after another outbreak.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2238899,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=society

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

Bird flu found in mute swans on south coast









Three wild swans found dead in Dorset have tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu





Three wild swans found dead in Dorset have tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the Government confirmed today.

The birds were found in the Chesil Beach area of the county during routine surveillance.

A control area has been set up in the area, within which bird owners must isolate their flocks from wild birds.

No disease has been found in domestic birds, and a programme of surveillance of wild birds is to be carried out.

Defra said there were no plans to cull wild flocks as this may disperse birds further.

The Government's acting chief veterinary officer, Fred Landeg, said: "While this is obviously unwelcome news, we have always said that Britain is at a constant low level of risk of introduction of avian influenza.

"Our message to all bird keepers, particularly those in the area, is that they must be vigilant, report any signs of disease immediately, and practice the highest levels of biosecurity."

John Houston, general manager at Abbotsbury Tourism Ltd, said the dead birds were found by a member of staff at Abbotsbury Swannery and Defra was notified as part of standard procedure.

Three mute swans from the Swannery have been identified as having the deadly H5N1 virus, he said in a statement.

"Our main concern is the welfare of the swans, our staff and the general public," Mr Houston said.

"We are working closely with Defra to ensure that this outbreak is contained and that the number of swans affected is limited.

"We are also working with the Health Protection Agency to ensure that staff and public are fully protected."

The Abbotsbury Swannery is a reserve for free flying swans and wild birds and is part of an internationally important wetland.

The Swannery has been under the stewardship of the Ilchester Estates since 1541, although records of a Swannery on the site date back to 1354.

It is a seasonal tourist attraction which closed to the public on October 28 last year and is due to reopen on March 15.

An expert on infectious diseases said the latest bird flu outbreak may have been brought to the UK by migrating birds.

Dr Robert Paul Yeo, from Durham University's Wolfson Research Institute, said: "The source of the bird flu in this case could be migratory birds over-wintering in the UK.

"The virus is now being increasingly detected in birds all over Europe so unfortunately it was not unexpected that it would, once again, appear in the UK.

"It reinforces the need for monitoring wild bird deaths for the presence of the virus."

Ian Johnson, spokesman for the National Farmers' Union in the South West, said: "After the last 12 months of plague and pestilence, this is the last thing on God's green earth we would have wished for.

"We have got to deal with it expediently but there is no need to panic as it appears to have been contained.

"Vigilance is important amongst poultry keepers but given a fair wind and cooperation in minding the controls, there is no reasons to believe it is anything but an isolated yet regrettable outbreak and we are working very closely with Defra."

All poultry keepers on the GB Poultry Register are being notified of the outbreak, Defra said, and the EU Commission has been informed.

The president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), Nick Blayney, said vigilant surveillance had enabled prompt identification of the disease.

"While we must never be complacent about the risk of human disease," he said, "avian influenza is a disease of birds and given the number of outbreaks throughout the world in recent years it is important that we remain vigilant.

"Domestic flock owners are reminded of the need to protect their birds by following biosecurity guidelines and to continually monitor their birds' health."

Mr Blayney said members of the public could help the surveillance effort by reporting any local incidents such as large numbers of dead, dying or sick birds, to the Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the Government was doing "everything we can" to prevent the spread of infection.

He said: "We have had to deal with this issue before and the important thing is that people know we have placed protection zones around the affected area."

Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said: "Clearly this is very disturbing news, especially because of the connection with the wild bird population.

"It is, of course, essential that poultry farmers and the public are vigilant in looking out for signs of the disease."

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which has two wetland nature reserves near Abbotsbury, said it would increase the surveillance of wild birds on its sites in Dorset, Devon and Somerset in response to today's outbreak.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's director of conservation, said: "We are facing yet another outbreak of bird flu, this time the circumstances are consistent with the disease arriving in wild birds.

"Worldwide, this virus has been transmitted via a variety of routes only one of which is through the movement of wild birds. Others include poultry movements, direct human transfer and the wild bird trade (which is) now banned in the European Union."

Dr Avery said it was still unclear how the virus had arrived in Dorset.
"It is unlikely to have involved the swans directly as this population is highly sedentary," he said.

Today's discovery comes less than a month after restrictions on poultry movement were lifted in Norfolk and Suffolk.

The restriction zone, which covered parts of the two counties, was imposed following an outbreak of H5N1 on a free range turkey farm in November, and only removed on December 19.

Thousands of birds on six premises were culled in the wake of the outbreak, which Defra said had been contained to two farms in Suffolk.

In a preliminary report into the outbreak, Defra said wild birds could not be ruled out as the source of infection - although there was no evidence of H5N1 in wild birds in the area.

Epidemiological research found no evidence that the virus was introduced by infected poultry or poultry products, or by vehicles or people transporting them, from countries which have the disease in domestic flocks.



Bird Flu: Fact File

The positive tests of three dead swans for the H5N1 strain of bird flu come less than a month after restrictions on poultry movement were lifted in Norfolk and Suffolk.

The wild swans were discovered in Dorset during routine surveillance and a control area has been set up.

The Government's acting chief veterinary officer Fred Landeg has emphasised that Britain is at a constant low level of risk of introduction of avian influenza.

Previously, a restriction zone which covered parts of Norfolk and Suffolk was imposed following an outbreak of H5N1 on a free range turkey farm in November. It was removed on December 19 and thousands of birds were culled in the wake of the outbreak.

Reassurances have been given that poultry products and eggs are still safe to eat because H5N1 is sensitive to heat and normal cooking procedures will kill it.

Fears the virus could ultimately mutate into a type easily passed between people have also been dismissed in the past by experts.

Four types of the virus in birds have so far been known to cause infections in humans: H5N1, H7N3, H7N7 and H9N2.

These lead only rarely to severe illness but H5N1 can lead to serious health problems and even death.

It is this virus that has infected hundreds of people, mainly in south east Asia, and caused 164 deaths between January 2003 and September 2006.

But all these cases resulted from close contact with wild birds and poultry and no infections have been spread from person to person.

Symptoms include a sore throat, aching muscles, lethargy, eye infections, breathing problems and chest pain and H5N1 can lead to death within days.

Antiviral drugs may help, but they must be given near the start of the illness.

Last February's outbreak of bird flu at a Bernard Matthews farm cost the British poultry industry ?9.4 million in lost sales over a 12 week period, market analysts Nielsen said previously.

Figures released last May showed that UK turkey sales dropped 29% in the 12 weeks after the H5N1 virus was discovered, compared with the same period in 2006.


The full article contains 393 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Last Updated: 10 January 2008 5:41 PM

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Bird-flu-found-in-mute.3661486.jp?articlepage=2

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

<CENTER>Control zone set up on bird flu outbreak

</CENTER>A BIRD control zone stretching 20 kilometres has been set up in south Dorset after the bird flu outbreak at Abbotsbury Swannery.
The Wild Bird Control Area extends to the south east of Abbotsbury, and includes Weymouth, Chesil Beach and Portland.
Government inspectors will visit all homes in the zone where poultry or captive birds are kept to check for the disease.
Bird movements anywhere within the control area will be restricted and keepers registered with the GB Poultry Register will be kept updated by text message.
Bird owners have been ordered to keep their birds housed or isolated from other birds and must not transport them anywhere.
All food and water given to their birds must not come into contact with wild birds, veterinary officials have said.
A larger Wild Bird Monitoring Area including Dorchester and stretching to Durdle Door and Burton Bradstock is also in place.
In this area wild birds will be closely observed for signs of the H5N1 strain. The special measures were enforced at 3pm yesterday and will remain in place until the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) withdraws the order.
The action came after three mute swans were found with the H5N1 strain of bird flu at Abbotsbury Swannery.
Swannery site boss John Houston, who is general manager of Abbotsbury Tourism Ltd, said the outbreak was likely to have been caused by a wild bird flying into the unrestricted nature reserve.
He added that this was just guesswork at the moment.
Birds are being monitored but the Defra has ruled out a cull of swans.
Mr Houston said: "Defra has said there will be no culling because it would be counter-productive and would scare the birds off into the wider area.
"What they're saying is that in their experience of this happening in wild ducks - which isn't necessarily transferable to swans - is there would be a one per cent mortality rate but the wild birds would quickly build up immunity and it will disappear.
"That's what we're hoping will happen here."
The centre, which is currently closed to the public for the winter season, is due to reopen on March 15 as swans begin to nest.
Abbotsbury Swannery is a reserve for free- flying swans and wild birds and is part of an internationally-important wetland. Last year the centre celebrated the birth of its first black swan.
The swannery has been under the stewardship of the Ilchester Estates since 1541, although records of a swannery on the site date back to 1354.
At the moment there are no plans to close public footpaths on the land but Mr Houston said it is in Defra's hands as to what changes are made.
West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin, whose constituency covers Abbotsbury Swannery, has spoken to the Secretary of State, the Chief Vet and the proprietor of the swannery about the outbreak.
He said: "I very much hope that we will get through this with the swannery intact because it is a remarkable national institution of real beauty and real ecological significance."
9:17am today


By Laura Kitching

http://www.thisisdorset.net/misc/print.php?artid=1958371

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

No reason to worry - Swannery staff
12:41pm today
A worker at the reserve where three wild swans have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu said there was "no reason to worry" as staff began a course of drugs as a precaution.
Restrictions on the movement of captive birds are in place following the discovery of the dead swans at the Abbotsbury Swannery, an open reserve in the Chesil Beach area of Dorset, during routine surveillance.
Two more dead swans were found along the Fleet lagoon on Thursday night but Abbotsbury Tourism Ltd general manager John Houston said this was nothing unusual.
They will be collected by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and sent for routine testing, but the results are not expected to be known for around two days.
Mr Houston said: "It's not unusual for birds to die in the winter of natural causes. In fact, there are less dying at the moment than normal because it's quite warm. Until I hear otherwise I am going to assume the best."
An average of 20 to 30 swans usually die in January, Mr Houston said.
Twelve members of staff at the swannery are to be given a basic flu jab. They have already begun a 10-day course of Tamiflu tablets. They include three full-time workers - swan herder David Wheeler and his assistants.
"There's no reason to worry," said Mr Wheeler. "Having said that, we could lose one or two more, you can't predict. We know that swans can be susceptible. We are just coping with the situation that has occurred.
"I didn't sleep a wink the night before last. I was just worried about the birds. We have known about it for years. We have been monitoring and we realise it could come at any time. We certainly didn't want it to come, it's not good news, but we are going to deal with it."

Mr Houston said the injections were just a precaution and that the Health Protection Agency had given assurances there was "almost no chance" of anyone catching the virus. He said the site was self-disinfecting, with the tides helping to keep the site hygienic. http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/new...nery_staff.php?

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

More dead swans found along Fleet


TWO more dead swans have been found along the Fleet amid a bird flu alert.

But staff at Abbotsbury Swannery say there is no cause for alarm.

Three swans there tested positive for the H5N1 strain yesterday.


Abbotsbury Tourism general manager John Houston said an average of 20 to 30 swans usually die at the swannery every January.

He said: "It's not unusual for birds to die in the winter of natural causes.

"In fact, there are less dying at the moment than normal because it's quite warm.

"Until I hear otherwise I am going to assume the best."

The animals were collected by Defra today and taken for testing at the department's lab in Taunton.

The result should be known at the end of the weekend.

The swannery will be given the all-clear after 21 days if no birds have tested positive for the virus.

http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.1959659.0.more_dead_swans_found_along_fleet.php

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

More dead swans found along Fleet


TWO more dead swans have been found along the Fleet amid a bird flu alert.

But staff at Abbotsbury Swannery say there is no cause for alarm.

Three swans there tested positive for the H5N1 strain yesterday.


Abbotsbury Tourism general manager John Houston said an average of 20 to 30 swans usually die at the swannery every January.

He said: "It's not unusual for birds to die in the winter of natural causes.

"In fact, there are less dying at the moment than normal because it's quite warm.

"Until I hear otherwise I am going to assume the best."

The animals were collected by Defra today and taken for testing at the department's lab in Taunton.

The result should be known at the end of the weekend.

The swannery will be given the all-clear after 21 days if no birds have tested positive for the virus.

http://www.thisisdorset.net/display....long_fleet.php

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.00043ee5a39d1c6a88577&t=h&om=0&ll=50.628558,-2.554665&spn=0.088421,0.2108&z=12

[Snicklefritz]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

"It's not unusual for birds to die in the winter of natural causes. In fact, there are less dying at the moment than normal because it's quite warm. Until I hear otherwise I am going to assume the best."
An average of 20 to 30 swans usually die in January, Mr Houston said.

Hmmm...if it's normal for swans to die in January because of the cold, doesn't that make the last two deaths just a wee bit more interesting since it NOT cold?

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

Based on monitoring area shape, I think it is safe to assume that the swans in the fleet lagoon are also positive

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/declaration080110.pdf

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

UK swannery 'hoping for the best' after bird flu deaths

The Associated Press
Friday, January 11, 2008
LONDON: Workers at a bird sanctuary where three swans died of H5N1 bird flu discovered two more dead birds Friday, but said they hoped that the infection would not spread further.
Restrictions on the movement of captive birds were imposed Thursday following confirmation of the infections at the Abbotsbury Swannery in the Chesil Beach area, about 145 miles (235 kilometers) southwest of London.
"There's no reason to worry," said swan herder David Wheeler. "Having said that, we could lose one or two more, you can't predict."

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=9150516

[HenryN]

Re: New bird flu fears as virus found in dead swans (England)

UK swannery 'hoping for the best' after bird flu deaths

The Associated Press
Friday, January 11, 2008
LONDON: Workers at a bird sanctuary where three swans died of H5N1 bird flu discovered two more dead birds Friday, but said they hoped that the infection would not spread further.
Restrictions on the movement of captive birds were imposed Thursday following confirmation of the infections at the Abbotsbury Swannery in the Chesil Beach area, about 145 miles (235 kilometers) southwest of London.
"There's no reason to worry," said swan herder David Wheeler. "Having said that, we could lose one or two more, you can't predict."

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=9150516

More suggestions that the two dead swans in the Fleet lagoon are positive.