Bird flu 'won't affect Caravan Club sites'

The Caravan Club has sought to reassure members following the recent reports of a new bird flu outbreak.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed that wild swans found dead in Dorset were carrying the H5N1 strain of the virus.

There are no plans to cull either domestic or wildfowl within the control zone.

The Caravan Club has issued the following statement: "We would like to reassure members that the control zone around the affected location does not include any Caravan Club sites.

"Although there are a number of open certificated locations within the restricted area, none of these have poultry outdoors and the owners have been advised to continue to accept pitch bookings as normal."

Defra's acting chief veterinary officer, Fred Landeg, says: "While this is obviously unwelcome news, we have always said that Britain is at a constant low level of risk of introduction of Avian Influenza."

Holidaymakers in the area should be reassured that the situation is being monitored, but that there is no need to change any of their leisure plans.

17/01/2008 09:26:10