Dozens of swans dead in Docklands due to bird flu

Dozens of swans in east London have died due to an outbreak of bird flu, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed.

At least 30 swans were recovered on Monday and 21 more were found on Wednesday at West India and Millwall Docks, according to the charity E1 Waterbird Welfare.

The Swan Sanctuary rescue charity previously described the current strain in London's Docklands as "very lethal and infectious and it seems to be particularly affecting the young cygnus that were born earlier on this spring".

As part of its dead wild bird surveillance scheme, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed the deaths were due to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza.

An APHA spokesperson said: "Members of the public are advised to not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that they find and should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water if they touch wild bird faeces or feathers or after feeding wild birds."

Avian flu is a virus affecting both poultry and wild birds according to the RSPB. There are multiple strains and most cause little or no illness in wild birds.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza can cause severe disease and high death rates.

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