Dead swans found in suspected bird flu outbreak

Six dead swans have been found in Worcester in a case of suspected bird flu.

Worcester City Council said on Tuesday evening the birds had been found along a stretch of the River Severn between the cathedral and the railway viaduct.

It added that some parts of the riverside path had been closed to help reduce the spread.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said it was too early to confirm if the birds had died as a result of avian flu.

A bird flu prevention zone was imposed across the whole of England at the weekend following a rise in confirmed cases, meaning people who keep domesticated birds should follow enhanced hygiene measures.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), which involves even stricter safety measures, is currently in place in Shropshire following a mass outbreak at a farm in Wem.

On Monday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed a person in the West Midlands had contracted the human version of bird flu.

It added however that cases of bird-to-human transmission were very rare and the risk to the wider public remained low.

Signs have been placed near the River Severn warning people to avoid contact with wild birds, including their feathers and faeces, and to keep their dogs on a lead.

Marilyn McCarthy, from the Swan Food Project in Worcester, said people needed to be cautious walking near the river.

"For a couple of weeks, which is probably the length of the very active phase, go somewhere else," she said. "And if you're feeding swans, I'd say find a place where you can feed without walking in their droppings."

Anyone who finds a dead bird is asked to report it to the council.

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