Scotland: Dead Birds collected from 22 sites

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UK bird flu officials expecting 'deluge' of calls from public

Officials today said they were braced for a deluge of calls from the public reporting dead birds after a swan tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive said officials had picked up dead birds from 22 sites in the area surrounding the initial case, with another eight reports due to be checked out today.

Regional operations director Paul Neison said an extra 70 staff, including animal health officers, were working in the surveillance and protection zones around where the swan was discovered in the coastal village of Cellardyke in Fife.

Laboratories are to remain open today and tomorrow to cope with the increased number of referrals as they check for the H5N1 strain, which is potentially fatal to humans if they come into contact with infected birds.

Asked if they were expecting a sharp rise in calls from the public over the weekend, the executive's head of veterinary operations for Scotland Derick McIntosh said: "We certainly are. We believe we're ready for that."

Experts were out in the field this weekend collecting carcasses, photographing them for identification and sending samples for testing, he said.

"As of this moment, we've got no positive results - all the results are negative."

But it is too soon to have results for tests from the birds collected yesterday, most of which were wildfowl, he said.

"Most of these birds are clearly going to be negative," Mr McIntosh added.

Scotland became the UK's front line in the fight against bird flu after a native mute swan discovered more than a week ago on a harbour slipway in the coastal village of Cellardyke was found to be infected with the H5N1 strain.

Results of tests on five more birds found dead in Scotland are expected later today.

http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=47&newsID=4632

Edited by Rick - April 08 2006 at 6:45am

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Scotland: Dead Birds collected from 22 sites Posted: April 08 2006 at 6:45am
	UK bird flu officials expecting 'deluge' of calls from public Officials today said they were braced for a deluge of calls from the public reporting dead birds after a swan tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in Scotland. The Scottish Executive said officials had picked up dead birds from 22 sites in the area surrounding the initial case, with another eight reports due to be checked out today. Regional operations director Paul Neison said an extra 70 staff, including animal health officers, were working in the surveillance and protection zones around where the swan was discovered in the coastal village of Cellardyke in Fife. Laboratories are to remain open today and tomorrow to cope with the increased number of referrals as they check for the H5N1 strain, which is potentially fatal to humans if they come into contact with infected birds. Asked if they were expecting a sharp rise in calls from the public over the weekend, the executive's head of veterinary operations for Scotland Derick McIntosh said: "We certainly are. We believe we're ready for that." Experts were out in the field this weekend collecting carcasses, photographing them for identification and sending samples for testing, he said. "As of this moment, we've got no positive results - all the results are negative." But it is too soon to have results for tests from the birds collected yesterday, most of which were wildfowl, he said. "Most of these birds are clearly going to be negative," Mr McIntosh added. Scotland became the UK's front line in the fight against bird flu after a native mute swan discovered more than a week ago on a harbour slipway in the coastal village of Cellardyke was found to be infected with the H5N1 strain. Results of tests on five more birds found dead in Scotland are expected later today. http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=47&newsID=4632 Edited by Rick - April 08 2006 at 6:45am

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 08 2006 at 7:00am
	FDA says better tests necessary on bird flu New guidelines will aid development of ways to identify H5N1 in humans, the agency says The Associated Press \| Posted April 8, 2006 WASHINGTON -- Federal guidelines rushed out Friday should help companies develop new tests capable of quickly singling out bird flu in infected humans, the Food and Drug Administration said. The availability of rapid and accurate tests capable of pinpointing bird flu would be vital in checking any outbreak of the disease should it jump to humans. Current rapid tests that use specimens collected from humans weren't designed or intended to detect the H5N1 strain responsible for bird flu, the FDA said. Nor can they distinguish among the various influenza-A subtypes, some of which are rarely lethal. The FDA hurriedly released the guidelines "because prior public participation is not feasible given the national and global public health threat of pandemic influenza," the agency said. The guidelines are in immediate effect but are subject to public comment. They spell out the steps companies have to follow to ensure the safe and effective use of in vitro diagnostic tests capable of detecting bird flu. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/health/orl-birdflu0806apr08,0,81821.story?coll=orl-health-headlines Edited by Rick - April 08 2006 at 7:01am