Suspected Bird Flu outbreak at Blackpool’s Stanley Park raises concern

Wednesday, 5 February 2025 16:37

By Central Radio

Stanley Park, Blackpool Lake. (c) Central Radio

Visitors urged to take precautions as several swans die at the popular beauty spot. Blackpool Council warns the public to keep pets away and avoid contact with birds.

Blackpool’s Stanley Park is facing a suspected outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, after several swans were found dead or unwell in recent days. Blackpool Council has reported the cases to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) after the birds displayed symptoms consistent with the virus.

While officials stress that the risk to the general public is low, they are urging visitors to take precautions. Dog owners have been asked to keep their pets away from the lake’s edge, and the public is advised not to touch any dead or injured birds or hand-feed them.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious virus that primarily affects birds but can occasionally infect other animals, including domestic pets, and, in rare cases, humans. Transmission typically occurs through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments. Though human infections are uncommon, they can result in mild to severe respiratory illness.

The outbreak comes as England remains under a nationwide bird flu prevention zone, enforcing strict hygiene measures around domesticated birds to limit the spread of the disease. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and visitors to Stanley Park are asked to remain vigilant and report any sightings of sick or dead birds to Defra.

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