New strain of bird flu infects people for the first time

A ‘highly pathogenic’ new strain of bird flu has been detected in a human being for the first time.

The strain, named H5N8, has left birds dead across Cornwall and Devon, among other counties in the UK, but never before had it been found in humans.

Now officials in Russia say seven workers at a poultry plant in the south of the country had been infected following an outbreak there in December.

“All seven people... are now feeling well,” said the head of Russia’s consumer health watchdog, Anna Popova.

Residents in Falmouth have been urged to stay away from sick or dead birds after two swans were found to have been infected with avian flu last month.

It was a similar story in Dawlish, Devon, where six of the town’s famous black swans were found dead late last year, again due to avian flu. In Plymouth, a number of swans died due to suspected bird flu.

DEVON fire crews have saved a village pub from burning to the ground – but not before the blaze completely destroyed the building’s kitchen.

Crews from across the South Hams responded to the fire at the Tower Inn at Slapton, near Kingsbridge, shortly before 8.30pm on Friday night.

Units from Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Crownhill brought the blaze under control – but not before it had completly gutted the pub kitchen.

THE fire brigade says it has ‘alarming reports’ of teachers setting alight to things while giving lessons on the Great Fire of London.

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service has urged teachers to not resort to ‘practical activities’ while teaching the topic.

The service believes it might encourage children to reproduce at home what they have seen in the classroom, with devastating consequences.

“Recently, we’ve had a few alarming reports of schools using practical activities when teaching the topic of the Great Fire of London,” the service stated in a Facebook post. “Some tasks involve cardboard boxes being set alight or using naked flames on tea lights and candles.

“We really don’t want this happening as it can encourage children to set fire to things. Some of the most tragic fires encountered by the fire service have involved children setting fire to their bedrooms, after copying what they had seen adults do with lighting fires for ‘fun’.

“We know teachers and schools are doing an amazing job and we really want to help. We have a video lesson about the Great Fire of London, and other fire safety resources, as well as a specialist education team you can speak to. See our website for more.”