Home
Bupa members

Support and offers for individual members and customers

Bird flu found in Dorset swans

14 January 2008

Key facts
  • Bird flu is chiefly a disease of birds. It doesn't spread easily from birds to humans.
  • The only people who have become infected with the virus so far have been in direct contact, for an extended length of time, with infected poultry or areas contaminated with infected faeces.
  • There is no danger of becoming infected with bird flu by eating poultry or eggs, so long as they have been cooked properly.
  • Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) works against the human form of flu. It won't prevent you from getting flu but it can reduce the amount of the virus in your body and may shorten the length of the illness. The World Health Organization recommends oseltamivir as the best treatment for people who have been exposed to H5N1.

A fresh outbreak of the deadly bird flu strain H5N1 has been detected among wild swans near Chesil beach in Dorset, UK.

On Thursday 10th January, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that the highly infectious virus has been found in three swans.

The discovery was made as a result of routine surveillance.

Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg explained: "While this is obviously unwelcome news, we have always said that Britain is at a constant low level of risk of introduction of Avian Influenza."

Defra has established a 3km control area and a 10km monitoring area around the land where the virus was detected. This encompasses Chesil Beach and Portland Bill.

Within these zones, bird keepers must house their birds or prevent them from coming into contact with any wild birds. The movement of birds is also restricted in these areas and bird gatherings - for example bird auctions - have been banned.

The virus hasn't been found in any domestic birds. No wild birds will be culled because of fears that this will disperse birds and potentially enourage spread of the disease.

Landeg commented: "Our message to all bird keepers, particularly those in the area, is that they must be vigilant, report any signs of disease immediately, and practise the highest levels of biosecurity."

Scientists fear that the bird flu virus could merge with a human flu virus and form a new more potent strain. This new strain would overcome the human immune system more easily, and therefore spread quickly, leading to a "flu pandemic".

Back to the latest health news

 

Bupa health insurance

Bupa health checks