British cases of the H5N1 variant of bird flu have been extremely rare

The number of wild swans that have been found dead in a nature reserve in the United Kingdom has risen. According to Defra the number of swans that have died from the deadly H5N1 version of the bird influenza is now nine. All of the birds have come from the Abbotsbury Swannery located near Chesil Beach in Dorset and the first infection was reported on January 10th.

These cases of the bird flu virus in the United Kingdom are likely to have been started by an infected bird migrating over Dorset as scientific testing has shown the particular type of the H5N1 a virus to be almost identical to one which was found on the European mainland earlier this year.  Migrating birds are considered to be the primary reason why the bird flu virus moves around so quickly.

While the government can place restrictions on the movements of poultry around infected areas it is almost impossible for them to restrict the movement of wild birds. It is important that poultry farmers keep their birds inside and do not let them have contact with migratory birds.

No human cases of the bird flu virus have been recorded in United Kingdom but it is worth remembering that over 200 people have died from it around the world and that it is not something that should be thought about lightly. Just to be on the safe side anyone who has been working in the area with birds has been given a course of the bird flu medication Tamiflu. Officials however said that the chances of infection were extremely low.

British cases of the H5N1 variant of bird flu have been extremely rare and due to efficient monitoring of the disease it has been largely contained. In other countries around the world however bird flu has resulted in the widespread culling of millions of birds and the deaths of men and women. The first UK case of the bird flu virus was reported in Scotland in 2006 and the first world case was reported in 2003 in the Far East. Nobody has died from the bird flu virus in Europe yet.