Dead swans in park test positive for bird flu

Eight dead swans were found at a park in Chester-le-Street, County Durham

Swans found dead in a park tested positive for bird flu, a council said.

A total of eight dead birds have been discovered at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street since early March and some have been confirmed as having had avian influenza.

Durham County Council assured nearby residents that the risk to public health was "very low", and asked them not to go near dead or sick birds.

In the last couple of weeks, cases of the virus have been found in Burnopfield forcing the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to order humane culling and surveillance zones in the area.

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APHA does not declare an outbreak among wild birds as there are no restrictions that can be put in place to control their movement, the local authority said.

The county council's director of public health, Amanda Healy, said: "As a precaution, we are asking people not to go near dead or sick birds, to avoid interaction with birds and to wash hands regularly, especially after coming into contact with any birds or other animals.

"We are also advising visitors to keep a close eye on children and to make sure dogs are on a lead."

The APHA confirmed a number of wild bird deaths in the Chester-le-Street area.

It said a swan collected from the area in early March tested positive for "highly pathogenic avian influenza".