Britain targets bird flu
Swan testing to be part of renewed government efforts against bird flu
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Monday, 18, Sep 2006 01:06
Improved sampling of birds in at-risk areas will form part of the government's new strategy to target bird flu.
A revised strategy, announced today by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), will screen wild birds for the presence of the highly infectious H5N1 virus.
Areas affected by Defra's targeted surveillance strategy include those which have higher numbers of migrating waterfowl and poultry populations.
It is being introduced in time for the autumn migration of water birds from more northerly latitudes.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a bird flu pandemic is a serious threat; 241 cases of confirmed avian flu have been reported to the WHO, which have resulted in 141 deaths.
Although a variety of live, shot and dead wild birds found in designated areas will be tested, certain species which are thought to be at greater risk of developing avian flu will form the focus of the strategy, including ducks, geese, swans, gulls and waders.
Defra sought to reassure the public that dead wild birds will be screened because they are a convenient source for sampling, and not simply because their death is likely to be due to avian flu.
Debby Reynolds, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "This new targeted strategy ensures that our operation is as sharp as possible. We are doing most work in areas where there is a greater likelihood of finding virus but we will continue to be vigilant in checking for avian influenza right across the UK."
She added that in order to target avian flu there is a continual need for a partnership between poultry farmers, wildlife experts, scientists and the general public.
Defra's new strategy has been developed in partnership with a number of wildfowl experts, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the State Veterinary Service and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.