Britain's first case of bird flu was undergoing further tests today to see if the parrot involved contains the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus which can be lethal to humans.
The country's department for environment, food and rural affairs confirmed yesterday that a form of the "highly pathogenic" H5 virus had been found in a bird being held in UK quarantine.
The parrot, which was imported from South America, arrived in Britain last month and died a couple of days ago. It was part of a mixed consignment of 148 parrots and "soft bills" - birds that eat soft food - that arrived from Suriname, South America on September 16th.
It was being held with 216 birds from Taiwan. More than 300 birds being held in a biosecure quarantine unit at an undisclosed location have all now been humanely culled.
Despite the confirmed case of bird flu, Britain retains its disease-free status because the virus was identified in imported birds during quarantine.
The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said: "This incident showed the importance of the UK's quarantine system.
"We have had similar incidents in the past where disease has been discovered but successfully contained as a result of our quarantine arrangements."
The Department stressed it was "very difficult" for humans to contract avian influenza but all those who came in contact with the culled consignment have been given antiviral treatment.
Meanwhile, a leading British animal welfare expert said importing wild birds into the European Union must be halted to keep out avian flu.
"We are calling on the European Commission to ban imports of all wild-caught birds into the EU," said David Bowles, head of external affairs at the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA), last night.
PA