Post by Salem6 on Apr 6, 2006 13:39:56 GMT
A swan found dead in Scotland has tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.
The bird, tested at the EU's bird flu laboratory in Surrey, is the UK's first case of H5N1 in a wild bird.
A 1.8-mile (3km) protection zone to prevent poultry being moved is in place around Cellardyke in Fife, where the bird was found eight days ago.
The H5N1 virus does not currently pose a large-scale threat to humans as it cannot pass easily between people.
But experts fear the virus could mutate to gain this ability, and in its new form trigger a flu pandemic, potentially putting millions of human lives at risk.
A wider six-mile (10km) surveillance zone has been set up around Cellardyke.
The infected bird, thought to be a mute swan, a native UK breed, was collected from Cellardyke harbour on 30 March - a day after it was reported by a resident.
The RSPB's species and habitat policy officer, Paul Walton, said he had heard from "government scientists that it is confirmed H5N1, which is the same type as has been spreading westwards across Europe in recent months."
Poultry restrictions
The National Farmers' Union also confirmed the infection, saying it was an "unwelcome and important development from the point of view of poultry health" but that it was "well prepared".
Restrictions on the movement of poultry, eggs and poultry products have been implemented.
Farmers within the protection zone have been advised to ensure their birds are isolated, if possible indoors, to prevent infection from wild birds.
The National Farmers' Union said it understood there were no commercial poultry farms within the protection zone, and only one commercial outfit in the surveillance zone, although there were eight other places with poultry.
BIRD FLU FACTFILE
Bird flu viruses have 16 H subtypes and nine N subtypes.
Four types of the virus are known to infect humans - H5N1, H7N3, H7N7 and H9N2
Most lead to minor symptoms, apart from H5N1
H5N1 has caused more than 100 deaths in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam
The World Health Organisation says not all H5 or H7 strains are severe, but their ability to mutate means their presence is "always a cause for concern"
It is the first time the strain has been found in a wild bird, but H5N1 was detected in birds held in quarantine in the UK after infected Taiwanese finches arrived at a secure animal unit in Essex in October.
The Health Protection Agency emphasised the infection was "a bird flu - not a human flu".
Although people in other countries have died from bird flu, they have lived in very close contact with poultry or handled dead birds.
The Food Standards Agency said proper preparation would ensure food safety.
"Obviously events might unfold in later time but it doesn't alter our advice, which is that the safety of poultry meat and other poultry products is satisfactory providing it is properly cooked and prepared," said Alick Simmonds.
The Scottish Executive also said there was no reason for public health concern, but the public was urged to be vigilant in reporting any dead birds.
'Plans in place'
Scotland's Chief Veterinary Officer Charles Milne earlier defended the plan for dealing with bird flu in the UK.
"We got the results at the earliest possible opportunity and the appropriate measures were put in place."
Representatives from Defra, the Scottish Executive, the Department of Health, the Cabinet Office and 10 Downing Street attended a meeting of the government's national emergency committee, Cobra, on Thursday.
"The meeting reviewed the contingency plans that are already in place and concluded that all relevant steps are being taken," the Cabinet Office said.
The World Health Organisation said there was concern that the virus would eventually become more dangerous to humans.
WHO's Dick Thompson said: "It may be possible to remove the virus from the environment but it's going to continue to spread.
"What we worry about of course is that as it spreads it has more opportunity to mutate and change and develop characteristics that which make it even more dangerous to humans."
In Europe, the H5N1 strain has already been found in countries including Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Serbia-Montenegro and Switzerland and measures have been taken to try to prevent its spread from wild birds to poultry.
Defra helpline on 08459 335577.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4882946.stm