Residents are being urged to stay away from sick or dead birds after two swans in the Falmouth area were found to have been infected with avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. The bodies were collected by the Animal Plant Health Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Tests confirmed that both birds were infected with the H5N8 strain of the virus. Cornwall Council is working with Public Health England, DEFRA and other agencies to closely monitor the situation, however there is not believed to be any immediate risk to human health.
A WARNING over the dangers of avian flu was given this week after several little egrets were found dead on the Helford Estuary. Yesterday the Marine Strandings Network said the deaths have been reported to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs because of the risk of avian influenza. The risk has been increased to very high for wild birds and medium for poultry with high biosecurity and high for poultry with poor biosecurity. The findings follow concerns about the fate of up to 60 wild swans on the Penryn River which disappeared from their usual feeding grounds without warning last week.