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20 February 2008

Defra has confirmed that from today the Wild Bird Control Area and Wild Bird Monitoring Area in Dorset will merge

This is based on ongoing surveillance in the area, veterinary risk assessment, and expert ornithological advice about the area most at risk, in accordance with the Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) (England) Order 2006.

Highly pathogenic H5N1 was confirmed in three wild mute swans in the area on 10 January and to date there have been a total of 10 wild mute swans confirmed with the disease. The last case was a mute swan found dead on 29th January and confirmed on 4th February.