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Council confirms bird flu case in popular city park

Helen Mulroy
News imageHelen Mulroy/BBC The ornamental lake at Verulamium Park. In the winter scene, waterfowl can be seen in the foreground. Leafless trees around the lake are reflected in the water. Helen Mulroy/BBC
Dead birds have been found in the ornamental lake at Verulamium Park in St Albans

A case of bird flu has been found in a popular city park, a council has confirmed.

St Albans City and District Council has put up signs in Verulamium Park stating avian flu was identified by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) after "some waterfowl had recently become unwell and died".

The notices urge the public not to "touch any birds or go into the water" and also advise dog owners to keep their pets out of the lake.

A spokesperson for wildlife charity Swan Rescue Hertfordshire (SRH) said around ten geese in the area are now thought to have died from the disease.

Abi Edis, from SRH, which works under the umbrella of national charity The Swan Sanctuary, said she was called on 4 December by a local resident who had seen two dead Canadian geese in the water.

"I reported it to Defra and the results have now come back that it was positive, so one or both of the geese had avian flu," she said.

The park ranger also confirmed to the BBC that Defra had taken deceased birds away from the park and had subsequently confirmed avian flu was present.

News imageHelen Mulroy/BBC The image shows a sign nailed to a tree in Verulamium Park saying avian flu was discovered in the park by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Helen Mulroy/BBC
Notices ask the public to tell the park ranger if they see any birds that appear to be in distress

One hundred-acre Verulamium Park, popular with dog walkers, is close to St Albans city centre.

It is named after the Roman city on which it stands. The walls and other remnants of Verulamium can be seen there.

News imageAbi Edis Abi Edis looks at the camera she is holding a swan in a sling. She has brown hair tied back and wears glasses. She is wearing a black t-shirt and grey jogging bottoms. Abi Edis
Abi Edis, who volunteers for Swan Rescue Hertfordshire, said she was alerted by a member of the public

Ms Edis added: "If you're walking a dog, keep it on a lead, because the birds will be weaker if they are suffering from the virus, so they're more likely to be attacked.

"Bird flu is transferred by bodily fluids, so poo and saliva, so don't contaminate yourself," she added.

"Make sure you're washing your hands.

"If you do visit water in different areas, make sure you clean your shoes between different sites because obviously if we've got avian flu in Verulamium Park you don't want to track that to another site somewhere else."

Defra said the public should report findings of dead wild birds online or by calling 03459 33 55 77.

"Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find unless strictly necessary," it added.

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