Scotland says nine dead birds didn’t have bird flu
The Star, 9 Apr 2006

LONDON: Nine more birds found dead in Scotland did not die of bird flu, officials said yesterday, two days after Britain confirmed the H5N1 strain had reached its shores.

On Thursday, Scotland’s chief veterinary officer Charles Milne said a mute swan found in  Cellardyke harbor had died from the virus. Five other birds were also being tested yesterday and the results were expected later in the day.

“The latest information shows that no new positive test results have been received for the H5N1 strain”, a statement by the Scottish Executive said.

Officials have said the threat to humans is remote, despite the discovery of the deadly H5N1 strain in the carcass of the swan, found on March 29.

The Scottish Executive and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said laboratories in Scotland and England would work through the weekend to test the birds.

Scottish officials have announced measures to prevent the spread of the disease to domestic poultry farms as has happened in some European countries.

Veterinarians will test birds at all poultry farms within 3km of the site where the swan was found.

The authorities also set up a 2,500 sq km “wild bird risk area” in Scotland.

“Everybody’s wish is this disease never gets into our domestic poultry flocks”, National Farmers Union President John Kinnaird said. --- Reuters.