More than 50,000 wild birds in UK killed by avian flu – double previous estimates

H5N1 bird flu may lead to extinction of species as data revealed by Guardian shows worst losses in decades

Avian flu has killed more than twice the number of wild birds previously estimated in the UK, according to data collected by the Guardian, with numbers likely to escalate during this year's breeding season.

The highly infectious variant of H5N1 has caused Europe's worst bird flu outbreak, resulting in the most significant and sudden loss of birds in decades. Conservationists are warning that it could mean the extinction of some seabird species, as breeding colonies have been particularly badly hit.