Why Was H5N1 Infected Swan Left For Twelve Hours?

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Article Date: 07 Apr 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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According to Tina Briscoe, the lady who found the dead swan in Scotland, it was not till twelve hours later that authorities came to have a look at it. According to Charles Milne, Chief Veterinary Officer, the timeline could not have been tighter. He said 'procedures were followed fully.'

When Tina Briscoe told the police about the swan, she was told to get in touch with an animal charity. She was told not to worry if it was a heron, but to report it to Defra if it was a swan. The dead animal was a 'mangled heap'.

She reported it to Defra that evening and it took till lunchtime the following day before anyone turned up to have a look. Mrs. Briscoe was concerned the tide might take the dead bird away, or cats may have picked on it.

Another person who had seen the swan said it looked like a 'mangled heap'. He said it had obviously been pecked at, as it was torn open.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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