Bird flu experts alerted after dead swans

 

HEALTH: Bird flu experts alerted after dead swans spotted

TWO swans found dead close to farms on the outskirts of Peterborough are believed to have been tested for bird flu.
The pair of birds were discovered by a passing motorist close to farms on a country road between Maxey and West Deeping.

It is believed the birds were taken away by local vets under protocol from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Wild fowl and swans have been blamed for the spread of avian influenza across Europe.

The deadly strain of the virus has been found in a number of countries including Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Turkey and Poland.

Builder Mick English spotted the birds at 7.30am yesterday. He phoned the RSPCA, which told him to contact the the Government in case the swans had been infected with the avian flu virus.

Mr English called the Defra helpline and he was told that a scientist would be sent to investigate.

Mr English said: "All the talk of bird flu has been a bit scary, and to see them dead so close to a farm was worrying. There were no cuts on them or obvious signs of injury that I could see.

"I was asked lots of questions on the telephone and was told that they might send someone to take the swans away. To have two of them there together seemed very strange."

DEFRA spokesman Matt Conway said there has been no recorded instances of bird flu in the UK, but that reports from the public are given serious consideration.

Mr Conway said: "Callers will speak to an operative who will find out if the call fits certain criteria.

"If it does, they will contact a local veterinary expert, who will assess the situation, and if necessary, send someone out to pick up the birds.

"We cannot comment on individual cases, but a decision on whether or not to take the birds would have been made based on information given by the caller.

"We do take a particular interest in dead swans and wildfowl, because such deaths have occurred on the continent as a result of avian flu.

"We have tested in excess of 4,000 birds, and have reacted to hundreds of calls from the public."

Adrian Rogers, spokesman for the State Veterinary Service, said: "What we are particularly interested in are either a high number of deaths of the same species, or dead swans or geese.

"If a number of swans or geese are found, we would go out and collect the birds and take them to a lab for testing."

Any member of the public who has concerns about a dead bird can call the Defra helpline on 08459 335577.

10 March 2006