Tests are being carried out on a number of birds found dead at Sale Water Park over the last three days
Sale Water Park(Image: We Love MCR)
Public health officials today issued a warning over a suspected avian flu outbreak following the death of a number of birds at a Greater Manchester beauty spot.
Tests are being conducted to confirm whether a number of birds which have died at Sale Water Park over the last three three days had avian flu.
Officials have stressed that the risk to the general public is ‘very low’ but they have urged anyone using the water park adjacent to the River Mersey to take some simple precautions.
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, can be carried by wild birds migrating to the UK from mainland Europe during the winter.
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A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “Bird flu has been detected in a number of wild birds across Great Britain, including the North West of England. This is normal for this time of year as wild birds carry the disease when migrating to the UK from Europe and Asia.
“Over the last three days, several birds have died at Sale Water Park and are being tested for bird flu. Wild birds are susceptible to a range of diseases and injuries, and not all dead birds will have been infected with bird flu.
“The risk to the general public’s health is very low, but we are urging people to be vigilant when enjoying the water park.
“At this moment, we are asking members of the public not to feed birds directly from their hands and for dog owners to keep their pets on a lead and out of the water.
“If someone sees a dead wild bird, they should not touch it but should report it to the government website www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds.”
A wetland nature reserve in Lancashire has temporarily closed after a possible case of bird flu. Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Burscough reportedly said it related to one of the collection birds.