MORE dead swans have been discovered in a potential avian flu epidemic in Worcester.
Worcester City Council reported that 12 birds had been discovered along a section of the River Severn between the cathedral and the railway viaduct, but the death toll might be much higher.
It further stated that some sections of the riverfront path had been closed and barricades had been erected to try prevent the spread.
Signs near the River Severn urge people to avoid contact with wild birds, including their feathers and feces, and to keep their pets on a leash.
A post on Worcester’s Swan Food Project Facebook page cautioned that this could be the city’s worst occurrence of bird flu in years due to a lack of immunity.
It reads: “Looks like avian influenza has returned, with a handful of swans dead and many appearing ill. There are some sick swans resting along the banks. Please be nice to them and let them be. Do not allow your dog to chase them or enter the water. Although the risk to humans is minimal, do not handle ill or dead birds.
“Because the last outbreak occurred in 2022, younger swans will have no protection to it, so we should predict more deaths this time. It is likely that the worst will pass in two weeks.”
Following an increase in confirmed cases, a bird flu prevention zone was imposed over all of England at the end of last month, requiring those who keep domesticated birds to take extra precautions.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also confirmed that a person in the West Midlands has contracted the human strain of avian flu.
It emphasized, however, that incidents of bird-to-human transfer were extremely rare, and the risk to the general population was negligible.
Anyone who finds a dead bird should report it to the council.
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