Wild duck shot in Scotland had bird flu

The mallard, shot in West Lothian in October, was tested in a UK-wide survey of hundreds of birds to check for the virus.

Out of 280 birds shot and tested, it was one of two to be infected with a strain of avian flu. However, the low-risk strain, known as H6N2, cannot spread to humans. A sheldrake was also found to be infected with a low-pathogen strain in England last year.

Scientists are on the alert for the virulent H5N1 strain spreading from Asia, where it has killed more than 70 people.

That strain has already come as far as Turkey, where it has infected 19 people and killed three children in confirmed cases.

Yesterday, there were fears a young girl had become Turkey's fourth victim, although initial tests had proved negative. In Germany, a man who had visited Turkey was admitted to a hospital in Cologne with symptoms similar to those associated with bird flu. However, he was later reported to be clear of the virus.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stated it was highly unlikely the duck found in Scotland would have come from areas where H5N1 has been found.

A spokeswoman said: "It is extremely unlikely this duck would have come from anywhere other than Europe. This finding is not of particular concern." It is thought the bird would have come to Scotland via western or eastern Europe.

But the discovery underlines the difficulty of ensuring that the UK remains free of bird flu, despite the extensive movement and mixture of birds.

Governments across Europe are keeping an eye on the wild bird population in order to ensure bird flu does not spread to domestic fowl. Once in poultry farms, the virus tends to become more dangerous.

DEFRA's first study of wild British birds last year tested almost 1,500 carcases caught live and shot.

Ornithologists have warned that wild birds could bring the virulent H5N1 virus to Britain by migratory routes. But even if this is to happen, it is not likely to be until autumn this year, when birds begin returning from migratory grounds in the east. The coming spring migration from Africa is considered low-risk.

However, the Conservatives criticised the government yesterday for being "complacent" in not reviewing contingency plans for bird flu until after the spring migration had taken place.

James Paice, the shadow environment minister, said the review should be carried out immediately, considering the seriousness of the threat.

He said: "Any simulation exercise to test the UK's preparedness for an outbreak of bird flu must take place immediately - not after the spring migration when many experts believe we are most likely to be exposed to the disease. Given the implications of a national outbreak, it is imperative that the government's contingency plans are reviewed now, so that the current state of readiness can be assessed and improved before the threat increases.

"It seems complacent in the extreme to delay this exercise until April, by which time it might be too late."

In Turkey, the bird flu virus has severely damaged the country's 2.5 billion poultry industry, which employs 100,000 people.

At least 455,000 domestic birds have been culled, and flu in birds is confirmed or suspected in 26 of Turkey's 81 provinces. The human cost of the disease has also been extensive.

Dozens of people have been admitted to hospital with flu-like symptoms right across Turkey, including at least three children in Istanbul, on the doorstep of Europe.