From the moment the hypothesis of the role of migratory birds in carrying the virus great distances was evoked ... we were able to foresee in a way what is happening now.

The virus seems to be circulating quite widely in Nigeria, which is in the same area where European migratory birds winter.

For some days we have been expecting animals carrying the virus to be found.

This is a phenomenon that has now clearly taken a European dimension.

Our working hypothesis is that any infection in the birds from Surinam is likely to have arisen in the quarantine system, most likely in the facility in Essex where the Surinam birds shared airspace with the birds from Taiwan.

It's important to clarify that the avian influenza virus is not new to wild birds.