First bird flu case in Britain

Tests have confirmed a swan found dead in Scotland had the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, Britain8217;s National Farming Union said on Thursday. Britain8217;s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contacted the union to confirm the result, said Peter Kendall, the union president.

The wild swan was discovered last Wednesday at a harbour in Cellardyke, more than 725 km north of London. The British government8217;s crisis committee met earlier to discuss how to implement contingency plans.