• Avian flu is a disease in birds, not humans. While there have been some cases of people in South-East Asia and Turkey contracting avian flu from birds, it is extremely difficult for the virus to jump to humans. The people who have contracted the disease were mostly chicken farmers who were in close contact with the birds.

• It is safe to visit attractions in Britain where there are birds, such as nature reserves, stately homes and gardens, zoos, children’s farms, nature reserves and wetland centres.

• It is sensible to take normal hygiene measures if in close contact with a wild or farm bird and if a member of the public sees a dead bird it should not be handled.

• Avian flu is not a new disease. It was last found in the UK in 1992 on a turkey farm in Norfolk and in 2003 there was an extensive outbreak in the Netherlands with millions of birds culled. Both outbreaks were contained quickly.

• The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and theScottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERDA) are working closely with organisations such as the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the RSPB and have comprehensive contingency plans in place for dealing with an outbreak of avian flu such as this.

• Avian flu in birds exists in a number of popular overseas destinations for British tourists, there are no travel advisories for these destinations and tourists are continuing to travel to these destinations.