Only one confirmed bird flu case in Britain

FEARS of a widespread outbreak of bird flu across Britain were receding last night as an infected swan found in Scotland remained the only confirmed case of the deadly H5N1 strain.

Laboratories will remain open today to test carcasses, but the swan discovered in Cellardyke, Fife, was the only positive case of more than 1,100 birds examined since the end of February, officials said.

A spokeswoman for Britain's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said there were currently no 'report' cases - those which are suspected of bird flu and prioritised for testing.