Confirmed H5N1 avian influenza in wild swans in Dorset

The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today confirmed highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza among swans in the Chesil Beach area in Dorset .

A Wild Bird Control Area and Monitoring Area are being established by Defra around the premises, encompassing Chesil Beach and Portland Bill, and the shape of these is based on expert ornithological advice. This is to prevent the potential for further spread to neighbouring flocks and/or farms.

Despite this incident the current level of risk to humans from H5N1 avian influenza remains extremely low. Nonetheless, any possibility of exposure is taken very seriously and the Health Protection Agency is working closely with Defra and local NHS partners to ensure that all the necessary actions are being taken to protect those people who may have been exposed to the sick or dead birds.

These actions include the offering of antiviral drugs and seasonal influenza vaccine where appropriate to people who have been in close contact with the infected swans.

Avian influenza, or 'bird flu', is a contagious disease of birds caused by viruses, that normally only infects wild birds and, rarely, other species including domestic poultry. Evidence from past outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza shows that the virus does not easily infect people and there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

The current level of risk to humans from avian flu is extremely low and there is no need for local residents to restrict or change their everyday activity. Most human H5N1 infections so far have occurred through direct contact with live or dead infected poultry or very rarely via wild birds.