| Bird Flu now in Scotland |
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Scotland has reported its first case of Bird Flu. A dead swan has tested positive for the dreaded H5N1 strain of Bird Flu. The confirmation of this news by the Scottish executive brings the UK into the count of countries affected by this deadly disease.
The dead bird was found eight days ago in Fife around Cellardyke. Authorities have moved into place a 1.8 - mile (3km) protection zone, all movement of poultry within and to this area have been prohibited. In more precautionary measures the government has set up a further six mile (10km) radius surveillance zone around Cellardyke.
Paul Walson, the RSPB species and habitat policy officer has said," Government scientists have confirmed that it is H5N1, which is the same type as has been spreading westwards across Europe in recent months."
This latest development has been met by the farmers in the UK with mixed feelings. The National Farmer’s Union was ’unwelcome’ but they were well prepared to face this crisis. Farmers within this zone have been told to keep their birds in isolation and to keep them indoors if possible to prevent infection from wild birds.
In response to growing fears of possible pandemic, the Health Protection Agency has been emphatic in saying that the infection was a "bird flu-not a human one". The agency has further said that the few people who have died from Bird Flu have either lived in very close contact with poultry or have handled dead birds. The agency however did say that there was concern that the virus would eventually become more dangerous to humans. Mr.Dick Thompson of the WHO said," It may be possible to remove the virus from the environment but it’s going to continue to spread."
The deadly H5N1 strain of Bird Flu has already been found in European countries including France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Denmark and Sebia-Montenegro.
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