UK - Bird flu case creates media frenzy

Pegasus Birds and its owner Brett Hammond
Media speculation and public concerns over bird flu continue to dominate many local and national newspapers in the UK. In Essex particularly, a recent concern has been that of a worker from Pegasus Birds who is also employed in the NHS [National Health Service]. Pegasus Birds hit the headlines earlier this week when it was discovered that a parrot which died there had been infected with the H5N1 virus. It was the first case of its kind to be discovered in the UK. The owner, Brett Hammond [pictured above] had earlier declined to comment following the death, but today broke his silence to speak to BBC Essex. In a report broadcast early Friday he said the newspaper reports in the week had been ‘unfair’ and ‘exaggerated’. The Mirror had reported that Mr Hammond had been involved in “tax evasion” for which he was imprisoned. “Customs and Excise were aware of his trade back in 1993, but he was only nailed for a £650,000 VAT dodge, meaning he was allowed to resume his business after 12 months in jail,” the paper is quoted as saying [Daily Mirror 26/10/2005]. The Daily Telegraph reported on the same day that Brett Hammond had also been convicted of the “sale of smuggled birds”. The parrot which died at Pegasus Birds had been infected by finches imported from Taiwan, according to reports. The parrot had been imported from Surinam, in South America. One further bird has died at the premises. Throughout the country 250,000 birds are legally imported into the UK every year, but thousands more are smuggled into the country.
Brett Hammond may have been the unwitting owner of the first UK case of bird flu, but he is also the subject of a media frenzy as further reports persist in the tabloids. Today’s Sun in an Exclusive report said that one of Mr Hammond’s employees was also working at a hospital. The BBC also picked up on the story and talked to Graham Tosh a spokesman for Southend Hospital who said that there was “no risk” from the individual besides him having come into contact with birds carrying the H5N1 virus. The employee, Howard Savage, 55, is a part-time maintenance worker who does not have direct contact with patients. Mr Hammond remains in ‘hiding’ according to The Sun, who said he had gone to Germany to “escape the uproar”.
[21:42 GMT 28/10/2005]