Tests confirm a mute swan found dead near Fordingbridge in the New Forest died from bird flu
ANOTHER bird flu death has been confirmed in the New Forest, a week after a case was confirmed at a New Milton beauty spot.
Positive test results were revealed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for a mute swan’s carcass collected by Defra from an undisclosed site near Fordingbridge on 17th June.
As reported by the A&T, this follows last week’s confirmation that one of a number of birds found dead at Ballard Lake in New Milton had avian flu.
The Canada goose was found dead at the site off Lake Grove Road and Fernhill Lane over the weekend of Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June. It had the H5N1 HPAI strain of the disease.
No other bird flu cases have since been confirmed at Ballard Lake, where warning signs have been erected.
New Milton Town Council estates and facilities manager Mark Jeffries also confirmed there have been no further deaths since that weekend.
Council workers have been continuing to monitor the situation, he said, with all birdlife appearing to be healthy.
Commenting on the latest case, an APHA spokesperson said: “We are aware of a number of wild bird deaths in the New Forest area and a mute swan collected from near Fordingbridge on 17th June 2025 has been found positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1."
The spokesperson declined to disclose the exact location of the swan death.
Bird flu has also affected the Christchurch area in recent months, with at least one of two peregrine falcons, which had been nesting in the town’s Priory’s tower, confirmed to have died from the disease in May.
Several swans were also found dead on The Avon during May, as well as other bird deaths in several nearby area.
A 3km animal disease control zone, which included Hurn, Bournemouth airport, Avon Causeway and St Catherine’s Hill, had been in place but was lifted by 10th June.
The APHA stated: “Disease control zones are only put in place when there is a strain of significant public health concern detected, for example the Asian strain of H5N1.
“The Eurasian strain of H5N1, which have been detected in the UK during the current outbreak while they can affect humans are not considered a strain of significant public health concern.”
The warning notices at Ballard Lake urge people to be vigilant and to not touch any dead birds they might find but report them to Defra and inform the town council.
They also ask people to keep to the footpaths with dogs on leads, and to not touch wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings.
Those who keep poultry or other birds are instructed to wash their hands, and clean and disinfect footwear before tending to them.
Bird carcasses should be reported to Defra by calling its wild bird hotline on 03459 335577 or online via gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds
New Milton Town Council can be informed by calling 01425 619120.
