Bird Flu confirmed in Scotland, suspected in N.Ireland

Sparks

The dead swan found in Scotland today has been confirmed as having had H5N1 flu. From BreakingNews.ie:

Scottish swan positive for H5N1
06/04/2006 - 14:32:26

The swan that died of bird flu in Scotland has tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, the RSPB said today.

The dead bird was discovered last week on a harbour slipway in the coastal village of Cellardyke in Fife.

Further tests were carried out today to confirm if the swan had the strain that can be fatal to humans.

Dr Paul Walton, species and habitat policy officer for the RSPB, said at Cellardyke Harbour: “We’ve heard from government scientists that it is confirmed H5N1, which is the same type as has been spreading westwards across Europe in recent months.”

There are also reports from Northern Ireland of birds found dead with suspected H5 flu:

Dead swans tested in Antrim
06/04/2006 - 13:54:41

Six dead swans were today reported to authorities in the North in the wake of a confirmed case of bird flu in Scotland.

The British government said four carcasses were recovered in Portglenone, Co Antrim, and two in Moira, Co Down, this morning.

The remains will be tested at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s headquarters in Belfast in a move that has been standard practice for some time.

Bert Houston, chief veterinary officer for DARD, confirmed officials were working closely with their Scottish counterparts following the positive test in Fife.

But he forecast the North would be able to cope if the virus crosses the Irish Sea.

Mr Houston said: “We have good contingency plans in place and have implemented all the EU requirements.”

He added: “I am confident that if avian influenza did come to Northern Ireland we would be able to handle it.”

Mr Houston confirmed that the department’s helpline had been very busy this morning but said that was to be expected in light of the media coverage.

He said the worst case scenario would be an outbreak which would affect the commercial poultry industry.

But he said the position in the North was completely different to that in the Far East, where the industry was less advanced.

Liam McKibben, DARD’s director of animal health and welfare, said 350 dead and live-bird samples were tested between October and December last year.

This year, 25 wild bird carcasses have been submitted for tests.

All the results have come back negative.

So don't forget the NARGC's avian flu notices...

KerryShooter

Just read on Sky news that the Fife swan was a Mute swan which is Non-Migratory, so it caught it from some other carrier, another dead swan has been found in Glasgow and has been sent for testing.

Vegeta

How would this affect shooting over here if a few cases were found in Ireland

shroomfox

He said the worst case scenario would be an outbreak which would affect the commercial poultry industry.

Um...wouldn't the worst case scenario be where the H5N1 virus mutated and became contagious from human to human? For christ's sake...

demonloop

Time to stock up on some ammo me thinks, there won't be anything in the air for miles around my house

johngalway

demonloop wrote:

Time to stock up on some ammo me thinks, there won't be anything in the air for miles around my house

My dad was saying (joking) something like that today, luckily for Shannon airport all his gun does is help support a wall or they'd have to divert transatlantic flights!