UK on bird flu alert

A swan found dead with bird flu in Scotland had the UK on alert over the potential spread of the virus.

The news dominated the front pages of UK newspapers for two days as the bird was confirmed as contracting the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

The swan was discovered in the east Scottish coastal village of Cellardyke, about nine miles from St Andrews in Fife.

Scotland's chief veterinary officer Charles Milne told the BBC: "This is the first time that we have any indication that we might have highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 strain in GB. This has clear implications for our veterinary risk assessments and the action that we want to put in place over the next few days and weeks."

The government's chief veterinary officer Debby Reynolds was quoted as saying: "We are already in a high state of readiness and I have every confidence that officials north and south of the border will work together to manage this incident successfully."

The H5N1 virus does not at present pose a major threat to humans as it cannot pass easily from one person to another.

*See today's TravelMole guest comment 

Thursday, April 6, 2006

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