Avian flu prevention zone announced for whole of Scotland

Scotland’s chief veterinary officer has announced a Scotland-wide avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) following an increase in detections of the disease in captive and wild birds.

The measure, which came into effect at midday on Tuesday, means all bird keepers in Scotland are now legally required to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks.

These include keeping free-ranging birds fenced off, cleansing and disinfecting footwear and concrete areas, and keeping domestic ducks and geese separate from other poultry.

The AIPZ will be in place until further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of efforts to monitor and manage the risks of the disease.

Surveillance shows the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is circulating in wild birds across the UK and the risk to poultry and other captive birds is currently assessed as very high.

Between October and April there were six cases of the disease in kept birds in Great Britain.

Two of the cases were in Scotland, with one in a backyard flock on the Isle of Lewis and one in an egg producer in the Scottish Borders.

The other four cases were in England.

Since October 21, nine of the 65 dead wild birds in Great Britain have tested positive for avian influenza.

Of these, 56 were from England, eight from Scotland and one from Wales.

There has also been an increase in poultry outbreaks across Europe in recent weeks, including in Belgium, Germany and Norway.

Public Health Scotland said the risk to the public from the virus is very low and Food Standards Scotland has said there is a very low food safety risk for consumers.

Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

Scotland’s chief vet officer Sheila Voas said: “While the risk to public health is very low, we are currently experiencing a heightened risk of an incursion of this virus from migratory birds and so it is vital that appropriate precautions are taken to protect poultry and other captive birds from infection.

“The introduction of this zone is a preventative measure, aimed at minimising the impact this often devastating virus, can have on Scottish kept birds.

“Maintaining strict biosecurity is the most effective method of protecting birds from the virus.”

Bird keepers have been advised to familiarise themselves with the government’s avian flu advice, which can be found at gov.scot/avianinfluenza.

Suspicion of the disease should be reported to the local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) field service office – but the public are warned not to touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds they found.

Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people.

In Great Britain the UK Government’s online reporting system should be used to report findings of a single dead bird of prey, swan, goose, duck or gull; or five or more dead wild birds of any other species.

This can be found at gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds