The department said the most likely source of the Dorset avian flu outbreak was an infected migratory bird
The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published an epidemiology report into the H5N1 avian influenza case in wild birds in Dorset.
Defra said: ‘While it has not been possible to conclusively identify the source of the infection, the most likely hypothesis is that it was introduced by an infected migratory wild bird.’
It has also been established that the strain of the virus is similar to those isolated in continental Europe in the latter part of 2007.
“While it has not been possible to conclusively identify the source of the infection, the most likely hypothesis is that it was introduced by an infected migratory wild bird.
Defra
The department added that there is currently no evidence to suggest widespread disease in the wild bird population.
There remains no evidence of disease in domestic birds.
At the time of writing disease was confined to the six birds on the same premises. This represents a very low level of infection in the wild bird population on the site.
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