Dead swan found in Scotland has strain of H5N1 virus

The swan at the centre of Britain's bird flu scare had a strain of the deadly H5N1 virus very similar to one that infected more than 100 birds in Germany, Scotland's chief vet said today.

Charles Milne, the chief veterinary officer for Scotland, said tests on the swan found in Fife last week showed the infection was very similar to that which infected more than 100 birds on Ruegen Island in Germany.