Wild Birds with H5N1 in England 2008

[HenryN]

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

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Tests after bird flu hits swans

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><!-- S BO --><!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Workers at the swannery have been given flu jabs as a precaution

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA --><!-- S SF -->Tests are continuing on birds around Chesil Beach in Dorset, as vets try to contain the virulent form of bird flu found in swans at a sanctuary.
Three mute swans found dead at Abbotsbury Swannery tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
So far culling has been ruled out, but there are restrictions on movements of captive birds nearby.
Two more dead swans were found along the Fleet on Thursday night and will be collected by Defra later for testing. <!-- E SF -->
However, John Houston of the swannery - which holds 600 swans - said there was nothing out of the ordinary about two swans being found dead in winter and the tests on them at the department's laboratory in Weybridge, Surrey, were routine.
The results are expected to be known in about two days.
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."
<!-- S IANC --><!-- E IANC --><!-- S ILIN -->See bird flu map

<!-- E ILIN -->
All commercial poultry premises in the area are to be inspected by government officials for signs of the disease.
Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg urged all bird keepers to remain vigilant.
The outbreak was picked up by routine testing.
The Health Protection Agency is now monitoring about 12 staff at the reserve for signs of the disease, though the risk of infection is said to be low. The workers have begun a course of Tamiflu tablets as a precaution.
<!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg>


<!-- S ILIN -->Tourist attraction threatened
<!-- E ILIN -->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->
There are two restricted areas in place - a wild bird control area and a larger wild bird monitoring area.
The control area extends about 25km (15 miles) to the south east of the swannery, and includes the town of Weymouth, Chesil Beach and the Portland Bill headland.
The larger monitoring area of some 20 miles also covers the town of Dorchester.
Bird owners in the zones must house their flocks where possible, to separate them from wild birds.
They are permitted to move their flocks only under special licence.
Bird gatherings such as auctions are banned in the area, as is hunting wild birds.
'Big shock'
Ornithologists say mute swans rarely migrate, so it is most likely the virus got into the colony from a passing wild bird.
This is not a major migration season, but wintry weather could have prompted some birds to fly to Britain from Europe in search of food.
Mr Houston said staff at the swannery were "very concerned", but had been encouraged by Defra's comments about the situation of outbreaks in wild ducks, where immunity had built up quickly.
<!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg> It does seem to be the case that we are going to have to live with this particularly virulent disease


Andre Farrar
RSPB



<!-- S ILIN -->Bird flu explained
<!-- E ILIN -->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->
He said staff entering the site were wearing protective suits, and removing them and disinfecting themselves on leaving.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the government would do everything it could to stop 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."

Conservative MP Oliver Letwin, whose West Dorset constituency includes Abbotsbury, said he was glad to see the outbreak being "treated with the seriousness which it deserves".
"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," he said.
Dorset is not an area of extensive poultry production, and farmers' leaders say that, apart from those producers who are close enough to the outbreak to be under movement restrictions, there will be no impact on poultry supplies in the supermarkets.
<!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> The swannery is one of the area's most popular tourist attractions

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->
One neighbouring poultry keeper expressed concern that he had not yet been given any advice by Defra on what precautions he needed to take following the bird flu outbreak.
Graham Hutchings keeps 70 chickens at his home, just 500m from the swannery.
He said: "It's a nightmare. I'm just waiting for Defra to be in touch. They are supposed to be coming to see my birds.
"Every time one sneezes or coughs, I just panic. It's all fingers crossed for the swannery and for my birds."
5,000 slaughtered
The discovery in Dorset is the latest in a series of bird flu cases in the UK.
In November 2007, around 5,000 birds were slaughtered after the H5 strain of avian flu was confirmed in turkeys at Redgrave Park Farm, Suffolk.
Previously, a strain was found in chickens at a Norfolk farm in April 2006 and the month before that the deadly H5N1 strain was found in a dead swan on the Fife coast.
Experts say cross-infection to humans is still relatively rare and usually occurs where people have been in close contact with infected birds.
But they say if the H5N1 strain mutates so it can be passed between humans, it could become a global pandemic.

? Defra telephone helpline - 08459 33 55 77 <!-- S IANC --><!-- E IANC --><!-- S IIMA -->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7182474.stm

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=760 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=10></TD><TD vAlign=top width=629><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=629>Last Updated: Friday, 11 January 2008, 12:43 GMT
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=416 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=213> E-mail this to a friend </TD><TD width=203> Printable version </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Tests after bird flu hits swans

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><!-- S BO --><!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Workers at the swannery have been given flu jabs as a precaution

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA --><!-- S SF -->Tests are continuing on birds around Chesil Beach in Dorset, as vets try to contain the virulent form of bird flu found in swans at a sanctuary.
Three mute swans found dead at Abbotsbury Swannery tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
So far culling has been ruled out, but there are restrictions on movements of captive birds nearby.
Two more dead swans were found along the Fleet on Thursday night and will be collected by Defra later for testing. <!-- E SF -->
However, John Houston of the swannery - which holds 600 swans - said there was nothing out of the ordinary about two swans being found dead in winter and the tests on them at the department's laboratory in Weybridge, Surrey, were routine.
The results are expected to be known in about two days.
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."
<!-- S IANC --><!-- E IANC --><!-- S ILIN -->See bird flu map

<!-- E ILIN -->
All commercial poultry premises in the area are to be inspected by government officials for signs of the disease.
Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg urged all bird keepers to remain vigilant.
The outbreak was picked up by routine testing.
The Health Protection Agency is now monitoring about 12 staff at the reserve for signs of the disease, though the risk of infection is said to be low. The workers have begun a course of Tamiflu tablets as a precaution.
<!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg>


<!-- S ILIN -->Tourist attraction threatened
<!-- E ILIN -->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->
There are two restricted areas in place - a wild bird control area and a larger wild bird monitoring area.
The control area extends about 25km (15 miles) to the south east of the swannery, and includes the town of Weymouth, Chesil Beach and the Portland Bill headland.
The larger monitoring area of some 20 miles also covers the town of Dorchester.
Bird owners in the zones must house their flocks where possible, to separate them from wild birds.
They are permitted to move their flocks only under special licence.
Bird gatherings such as auctions are banned in the area, as is hunting wild birds.
'Big shock'
Ornithologists say mute swans rarely migrate, so it is most likely the virus got into the colony from a passing wild bird.
This is not a major migration season, but wintry weather could have prompted some birds to fly to Britain from Europe in search of food.
Mr Houston said staff at the swannery were "very concerned", but had been encouraged by Defra's comments about the situation of outbreaks in wild ducks, where immunity had built up quickly.
<!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg> It does seem to be the case that we are going to have to live with this particularly virulent disease


Andre Farrar
RSPB



<!-- S ILIN -->Bird flu explained
<!-- E ILIN -->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->
He said staff entering the site were wearing protective suits, and removing them and disinfecting themselves on leaving.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the government would do everything it could to stop 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."

Conservative MP Oliver Letwin, whose West Dorset constituency includes Abbotsbury, said he was glad to see the outbreak being "treated with the seriousness which it deserves".
"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," he said.
Dorset is not an area of extensive poultry production, and farmers' leaders say that, apart from those producers who are close enough to the outbreak to be under movement restrictions, there will be no impact on poultry supplies in the supermarkets.
<!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> The swannery is one of the area's most popular tourist attractions

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->
One neighbouring poultry keeper expressed concern that he had not yet been given any advice by Defra on what precautions he needed to take following the bird flu outbreak.
Graham Hutchings keeps 70 chickens at his home, just 500m from the swannery.
He said: "It's a nightmare. I'm just waiting for Defra to be in touch. They are supposed to be coming to see my birds.
"Every time one sneezes or coughs, I just panic. It's all fingers crossed for the swannery and for my birds."
5,000 slaughtered
The discovery in Dorset is the latest in a series of bird flu cases in the UK.
In November 2007, around 5,000 birds were slaughtered after the H5 strain of avian flu was confirmed in turkeys at Redgrave Park Farm, Suffolk.
Previously, a strain was found in chickens at a Norfolk farm in April 2006 and the month before that the deadly H5N1 strain was found in a dead swan on the Fife coast.
Experts say cross-infection to humans is still relatively rare and usually occurs where people have been in close contact with infected birds.
But they say if the H5N1 strain mutates so it can be passed between humans, it could become a global pandemic.

? Defra telephone helpline - 08459 33 55 77
<!-- S IANC --><!-- E IANC --><!-- S IIMA -->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Shannon Bennett]

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

http://www.birdflubreakingnews.com/templates/birdflu/window.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.irna.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fview%2Fline-22%2F0801112282204943.htm

London, Jan 11, IRNA
UK-Bird Flu
Britain faces its biggest outbreak yet of bird flu with tests continuing Friday in an attempt to contain the virulent disease after three mute swans were found dead in Doset, south-west England with the deadly H5N1 strain.

Two more dead swans have been found which the Department of the Environment and Rural Areas (Defra) said would be collected for testing at its laboratory in Weybridge, Surrey, south of London.
So far culling has been ruled out, but restrictions on movements of captive birds around Chesil Beach have been imposed. The local Abbotsbury Swannery, where three swans tested positive, holds around 600 swans.
Although cross-infection to humans is rare, fears are that the H5N1 strain mutates and causes a global pandemic. The Health Protection Agency said it was monitoring about 12 staff at the reserve for signs of the disease, but insisted the risk was low.
The discovery in Dorset is the latest in a series of isolated bird flu cases in the UK. In November 2007, around 5,000 birds were slaughtered after the strain of avian flu was confirmed in turkeys at Redgrave Park Farm, Suffolk, eastern England.
A strain was also found previous in chickens in eastern England at a Norfolk farm in April 2006 and the month before that there was an isolated case of a dead swan on the Fife coast in Scotland.
2220**345**1771

[Shannon Bennett]

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

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2678276.html?menu=

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100&#37;" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=news-head align=left>
<SMALL>Ananova: </SMALL>
</TD></TR><TR><TD height=13></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="80%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=bottom><B><BIG>Tests continue as dead birds found</BIG></B></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Tests are continuing on birds found close to the reserve where three wild swans have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.
Restrictions on the movement of captive birds are to remain 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.
Routine tests are being carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on two birds found at or near the reserve on Tuesday.
A Defra spokesman said: "As soon as results are available, these will be published as an information note."
One of the two was found in the same nesting area at Abbotsbury where the first three swans were discovered, while the second was found at Little Bredy, about three miles away. It is possible it hit power lines, the swannery said.
Two dead swans were also found miles apart at opposite ends of the Fleet lagoon on Thursday night, John Houston, general manager at Abbotsbury Tourism Ltd said and two more dead swans were found on Friday afternoon at separate locations along the Fleet lagoon.
Defra were on site and due to remove the remaining four dead birds to take them for testing.
"That takes us up to a total of nine if you include the one that hit the power cables on Tuesday," Mr Houston said.
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.
Twelve staff members at Abbotsbury Swannery, including three full-time workers have also now received a basic flu jab. They have already begun a 10-day course of Tamiflu tablets as a precaution. Swan herder David Wheeler said: "There's no reason to worry.

[HenryN]

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

Map updated

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.00043ee5a39d1c6a88577&t=h&om=0&ll=50.645977,-2.556381&spn=0.09013,0.22934&z=12

[HenryN]

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

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01110804/H5N1_England_Swans_More.html

[hawkeye]

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

Bird flu swans ‘flew in from Europe’
January 12, 2008
Valerie Elliot
The strain of deadly flu found in three mute swans at Abbotsbury, Devon, is a close match to the one that infected wild birds in the Czech Republic last summer. Urgent testing is going on at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to find out the exact match of the virus and to see how far it has spread in the country.

Experts believe that, because one of the dead birds was discovered as long ago as December 27, the likelihood is that an infected bird arrived during the cold snap on the Continent just before Christmas.

Among the species that flee to Britain in such weather are mallard, teal, widgeon, pochard and gulls.

Two more dead birds were found at the swannery yesterday but this has not yet raised particular alarm as there are usually 20 to 30 casualties among birds in January.

Poultry keepers in the control zone, which extends 15 miles southeast of Abbotsbury, and includes Weymouth, Chesil Beach and Portland Bill, were nervous as animal health officials inspected all registered poultry farms. All birds inside the zone must be kept indoors.

[vinny]

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

what are the chances of this being asymptomatic,and possibly having spread further inland.....?

[HenryN]

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

what are the chances of this being asymptomatic,and possibly having spread further inland.....?

H5N1 is all over Europe, including England. The surveillance is VERY poor. Notice how the swans died 1 at a time. If these were called in by the public, they would never be tested.

[HenryN]

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

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01120801/H5N1_England_Swans_Uva_Lake.html

[HenryN]

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

Bird flu tests on two more swans<!--proximic_content_off-->
<AUTHOR>By James Macintyre</AUTHOR>

Published: 12 January 2008



<!--proximic_content_on-->Tests were continuing last night on birds found close to the reserve where three wild swans have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.
<!--proximic_content_off--><!--proximic_content_on-->Restrictions on the movement of captive birds are to remain 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.
Routine tests were being carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on two birds found at or near the reserve.
A Defra spokesman said: "As soon as results are available, they will be published."
One of the two birds was found in the same nesting area at Abbotsbury where the first three swans were discovered, while the second was found about three miles away. It is possible that it hit power lines, the swannery said. Two other dead swans were also found miles apart at opposite ends of a lagoon, John Houston, the general manager at Abbotsbury Tourism, said. This meant it was "less likely" that the birds had infected each other.
Mr Houston added: "It's not unusual for birds to die in the winter of natural causes. In fact, there are fewer dying at the moment than normal because it's quite warm." An average of 20 to 30 swans usually died in January.
David Wheeler, a swan herder, said: "There's no reason to worry. But having said that, we could lose one or two more, you can't predict. We know swans can be susceptible."
The Government's acting chief veterinary officer, Fred Landeg, said: "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."
The public can help the effort by reporting any incidents, such as large numbers of sick birds, to the helpline on 08459 335577.

http://environment.independent.co.uk/nature/article3331281.ece

<!--proximic_content_off--><!-- Proximic Link -->

[HenryN]

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

12 January 2008

Passing bird may be H5N1 source

By Ray Ryan, Agribusiness Correspondent
A PASSING wild bird may have been the source of the new cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu found in three dead swans in Dorset, England.


The new outbreak has prompted a call from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) for Irish poultry producers to maintain high levels of vigilance and bio-security.

The DAFF have pointed out, however, that the most the recent information available is that there is currently little migration and the migratory pattern is stable and, as such, the risk to Ireland remains low.

Experts suspect that wintry weather could have prompted some birds to fly to Britain from Europe in search of food.

Fine Gael spokesman Michael Creed, TD, who repeated his party?s call on Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to set up a national bio-security committee, said the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu is again posing a threat.

?Flock owners, however, must keep the Department of Agriculture appraised of the best intelligence available and Minister Coughlan must continue to liaise closely with her counterparts in Britain and Northern Ireland,? he said.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Belfast said at this stage there is no need to consider housing birds in Northern Ireland.

It reminded bird keepers of the need to practice good bio-security and if possible, feed and water their birds indoors to avoid unnecessary contact with wild birds.

?The Dorset situation is being kept closely under review in conjunction with stakeholders and appropriate authorities, including DEFRA and the Department of Agriculture and Food, Dublin,? it said.

France yesterday raised its level of risk for bird flu to moderate from low.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=business-qqqm=business-qqqa=business-qqqid=52410-qqqx=1.asp

[AlaskaDenise]

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

Commentary

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

Commentary

More H5N1 Dead Mute Swans in England Likely

Recombinomics Commentary 02:02
January 11, 2008

Routine tests are being carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on two birds found at or near the reserve on Tuesday.

A Defra spokesman said: "As soon as results are available, these will be published as an information note."

One of the two was found in the same nesting area at Abbotsbury where the first three swans were discovered, while the second was found at Little Bredy, about three miles away. It is possible it hit power lines, the swannery said.

Two dead swans were also found miles apart at opposite ends of the Fleet lagoon on Thursday night, John Houston, general manager at Abbotsbury Tourism Ltd said and two more dead swans were found on Friday afternoon at separate locations along the Fleet lagoon.

The above comments suggest more H5N1 positive swans will be announced shortly. The detail on the first three H5N1 confirmed swans (see satellite map for details and locations) were collected over an several days, and one had been euthanized for a broken leg, indicating it was asymptomatic and the number of infected mute swans could be markedly higher than the number dead. Moreover, the spread in the dates of death also indicate the swans are being infected over an extended time period.

That possibility is supported by the dead swans collected this week, as well as the bicentric shape of the surveillance area. Although swans die in the dead of winter, the temperature on the south England coast has been mild in recent days.

The deaths have also led to an alert being issued by France. It is likely that H5N1 has spread throughout Europe, and those countries not reporting H5N1 have a poor surveillance system.


.

[Gert van der Hoek]

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

Bird flu test results expected


Test results are expected on as many as six dead birds found near the site of an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus.

Three infected swans were found at the Abbotsbury Swannery, an open reserve in the Chesil Beach area of Dorset, on 27 and 31 December and 4 January.

Two more swans were found dead on Tuesday and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reported four more on Friday.

There are restrictions on movements of captive birds nearby.

Tests have been carried at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, Surrey.

John Houston, general manager at Abbotsbury Tourism Ltd, said nine dead birds had been found. One of the birds may have been killed after flying into a power line, the swannery said.

- snip -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7184569.stm

[AlaskaDenise]

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

Commentary

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

Commentary

Uva Lake H5N1 in Mute Swans in England

Recombinomics Commentary 00:02
January 12, 2008

The strain of deadly flu found in three mute swans at Abbotsbury, Devon, is a close match to the one that infected wild birds in the Czech Republic last summer.

The above comment confirms that the H5N1 in the mute swans in southern England (see satellite map) is the Uva Lake strain. Since the sequence us being compared to the Czech sequence, it seems likely that the recent H5N1 sequence in southern England doesn?t match the Suffolk sequences, confirming that the outbreaks in England were due to independent introductions of the Uva Lake strain by wild birds.

Since Weybridge has not released the most closely related sequences from the Czech Republic and Kuwait, the exact series of relationships is not completely clear. Prior announcements indicated the Czech Republic sequence had 99.5% identity with the Kuwait sequence and 99.2% identity with the Nuremberg sequence. The Neuremberg sequence, as well as two additional sequences from Germany (Frohberg and Thuringen) have been published, and clearly link back to the Uva Lake strain, which has become dominant throughout Europe in 2007. Others have released Uva Lake sequences from the Krasnodar outbreak in September, and the Romanian outbreak in November, but Weybridge is still hoarding the Kuwait sequences collected almost a year ago.

Release of the hoarded sequences would be useful, so the paths of Uva Lake H5N1 in Europe can be independently analyzed.


.

[HenryN]

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

FEARS FOR BLACK SWANS AS TOWN ON BIRD FLU ALERT

<!-- Story Comment Cheks start --><!-- Story Comments Check End --><!--Task# 668 - Quizzes - START--><!--Task# 668 - Quizzes - END-->
11:00 - 12 January 2008
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<!-- Code added for entertainment - added by anjana --><!-- Code end for entertainment - added by anjana -->Dawlish is on alert following the bird flu outbreak in Dorset and there are fears it could delay the famous black swans breeding programme.

Mayor of Dawlish, Rosalind Prowse, said the town, famous for its wild birds and waterfowl including four black swans, would be on standby over the weekend.The move comes after an outbreak of the virulent H5N1 strain of avian flu killed three mute swans in Dorset this week.

Derek Porter, the waterfowl warden for Dawlish, said he was 'praying' the virus would not spread.


<!-- DIV added for task NFT00001396 -->"All we can do is be directed by Defra. If bird flu comes here our hands are tied.

"We are being vigilant and I am checking the birds two or three times a day for any signs of illness."

Cllr Prowse also raised concerns about the possible effects on a black swan breeding programme planned for the spring.

She said: "It's a major concern. The emergency has not got as far as Devon but the situation is very worrying. It would not only affect our birds but poultry farmers in the area.

"We were hoping to get a breeding programme underway and we would have some cygnets when the weather improves."

She added: "Our flock is registered with Defra, they will get in touch with our waterfowl warden if there are any problems and tell him what action to take."

She also said if the virus spread and they were forced to cull the birds, Dawlish would re-stock.

The black swans in Dawlish Water feature in the town's emblem and are a major historic tourist attraction. They were brought to Dawlish from Australia at the start of the 20th century.

Cllr Prowse said the swans would be monitored but moving them might be difficult if the virus spreads.

She said: "If you move them around you can't always put them back where you took them from. Black swans are very difficult because they're very territorial, and if you move them around you can't always put them back where you took them from."

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is increasing surveillance of wild birds on wetland nature reserves in Dorset, Devon and Somerset.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's director of conservation, said vigilance was a priority. "Frustratingly we are facing yet another outbreak of bird flu, this time the circumstances are consistent with the disease arriving in wild birds.

"We simply don't know how this virus has arrived in Dorset, but it's unlikely to have involved the swans directly as this population is highly sedentary," he added.

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=135239&command=displayContent&sourceNode=135077&contentPK=19528392&folderPk=79060&pNodeId=134831