Latest news with #WhitehavenHarbourCommissioners
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Warning after dead gull tests positive for bird flu
A herring gull found dead has tested positive for bird flu, the Animal and Plant Health Agency has confirmed. The bird was found in Whitehaven and the agency said it was aware of a number of other wild bird deaths in the area. Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners said a number of positive cases of avian influenza had also been reported in the Whitehaven Harbour area. A spokesman said that people should not "panic" but refrain from touching or picking up dead or sick birds and report any discoveries online. Earlier in the year bird flu was found in Burnopfield, Lazonby in Cumbria and in dead swans found in a park in Chester-le-Street. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Section of bird flu protection zone lifted Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Warning after dead gull tests positive for bird flu
A herring gull found dead has tested positive for bird flu, the Animal and Plant Health Agency has confirmed. The bird was found in Whitehaven and the agency said it was aware of a number of other wild bird deaths in the area. Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners said a number of positive cases of avian influenza had also been reported in the Whitehaven Harbour area. A spokesman said that people should not "panic" but refrain from touching or picking up dead or sick birds and report any discoveries online. Earlier in the year bird flu was found in Burnopfield, Lazonby in Cumbria and in dead swans found in a park in Chester-le-Street. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Section of bird flu protection zone lifted Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Bird flu confirmed in wild gull in Whitehaven
A herring gull found dead has tested positive for bird flu, the Animal and Plant Health Agency has confirmed. The bird was found in Whitehaven and the agency said it was aware of a number of other wild bird deaths in the area. Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners said a number of positive cases of avian influenza had also been reported in the Whitehaven Harbour area. A spokesman said that people should not "panic" but refrain from touching or picking up dead or sick birds and report any discoveries online. Earlier in the year bird flu was found in Burnopfield, Lazonby in Cumbria and in dead swans found in a park in Chester-le-Street. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu cases detected in seagulls in Cumbrian town
BIRD flu has been detected in a West Cumbrian town. Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners have confirmed that bird flu cases have been confirmed in the town. It is reported that the cases are affecting seagulls at the harbour. People are warned to take precautions when visiting the area, especially if walking a dog around the harbour. A Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners spokesman said: "Positive cases of avian influenza (bird flu) have been reported in the Whitehaven Harbour area. "There's no need to panic, but we kindly ask everyone to follow DEFRA's safety advice." Members of the public are urged to keep dogs on the lead at all times; do not touch wild birds; do not feed the birds; and wash your hands thoroughly if you come into contact with birds or droppings. Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners added: "We know it can be upsetting to see sick or injured birds but please do not approach or handle them. "For birds found on the Harbour, contact our office at 01946 590515 – a team member will help, or you can leave a message. "For birds in the water, please call Whitehaven Marina at 01946 692435. Thanks for helping keep our wildlife and community safe." The NHS says that bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds. In rare cases, it can affect humans. There are lots of different strains of the bird flu virus. Most of them don't infect humans. The NHS website states: "Plans are in place to manage any suspected cases of bird flu in the UK. "H5N8 and H5N1 bird flu have been found in some poultry, other captive birds and wild birds in the UK. "H5N6 has also been found in some wild birds in the UK, but this is a different strain to the H5N6 virus that has infected some people in China."
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Milestone reached in water activity centre build
The construction of a water activity centre has reached a long-awaited milestone. The building phase of the Edge in Whitehaven, Cumbria, has been completed, with the fitting out of the interiors due to start imminently. The £4.7m project, funded by Sellafield and the Coastal Communities Fund, was due to open in 2022, but the Covid-19 pandemic and challenges with the build significantly delayed the opening date, now planned for the summer. Deanne Shallcross, CEO of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners (WHC) which is behind the project, said it "felt so amazing" to finally walk inside the building but there was still work to do. The Edge, built in front of the Golden Sands beach, is set to provide water sports facilities, a cafe, new slipway and accommodation for visitors exploring the area and cyclists tackling the Coast to Coast (C2C) route. Those behind the plans said they hoped it would attract about 10,000 visitors per year. Mrs Shallcross said there would be a "big push" for the work to be completed by the start of the school summer holidays. "We're really keen to take the next steps, there's a huge amount of work ahead still," she said. The three-storey building was designed to look like the sandstone pebbles that wash up during high seas in Whitehaven. Plans include using the building as a venue for community events and activities. Mrs Shallcross added: "The building is amazingly full of potential, but while the shell is complete, the inside is still fairly empty at the moment. "But it won't be long before it becomes a hive of activity." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. New water activity centre 'to open by summer' Coastal activity centre progress 'so exciting'
