Mute swans speak loudly about H5N1 in Britain
Scott McPherson
in influenza and infectious diseases
|
Post a Comment
Dorset, England, is a busy place today. Several mute swans were found dead in a nature preserve there, and they have tested positive for highly pathogenic H5N1.
Dorset is in southern England, specifically located adjacent to the English Channel and across from continental Europe. The swans in question are indeed wild (they keep the neighbours up all night, apparently, and have wild parties). But they are NOT migratory, which means someone -- a party crashing duck or other migratory bird, apparently -- brought the virus into the preserve and the "swannery."
Authorities will not attempt to cull the wild birds, fearing they will fly away and deposit high-path H5N1 elsewhere. So they will test, place a cordon along the preserve, and try to contain.
The story and photo are from Guardian Unlimited. Here goes:
Reader Comments