Drunk woman takes seagull home before finding out it has bird flu

A drunk woman picked up and took home a seagull – only to find out later that it had bird flu.

Erin Punton had been on a night out with friends and was returning home when she spotted the bird outside a pub.

Inebriated,the 22-year-old from Ashington,Northumberland,scooped up the seagull and carried it home.

An intoxicated Erin had filmed herself with the seagull tucked under her arm while singing Valerie by Amy Winehouse.

In the clip,she said: ‘He’s a beauty.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Erin Punton spotted the bird outside a pub on the way back from a night out with friends and took it home while intoxicated,before finding out from a vet it was infected (Picture: Jam Press)The large bird appeared unbothered – or resigned – by the sudden twist of events as it was picked up from the road (Picture: Jam Press)‘He actually wants to stop in my room and everything but I’ve got nowhere for him.’The giant seagull appeared unfazed by the sudden attention as it was carried around like royalty.She woke up the next morning with no recollection of the night before and was shocked to find the bird flapping about in her living room.After taking the seagull to the vet,she ‘felt sick’ when they told her it had bird flu.She promptly bleached her entire home after finding out the bird was infected.

What is bird flu?

Bird flu,or avian flu,is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds.

It can affect humans in rare cases,by being transmitted through touching infected birds,bedding and preparing or eating sick poultry.

Avian flu symptoms in humans include a very high temperature or feeling hot or shivery,aching muscles and headaches.

The last case of confirmed bird flu was confirmed in captive birds at a premises near Tow Law,Bishop Auckland in County Durham.

Erin said: ‘I saw the bird outside Wetherspoons and managed to pick him up without even a thought.

‘I don’t even know what made me pick him up.

‘I put him in my sitting room with a blanket. When I woke up in the morning,I’d forgotten and he was just floating around the sitting room.

‘I dropped him off at the vets the next day in a box and was told he had bird flu.

‘I felt sick and bleached my whole house.’