Following an increase in detections of avian influenza (bird flu)
in wild and captive birds, the Chief Veterinary Officer for
Scotland has declared Scotland-wide Avian Influenza Prevention
Zone (AIPZ) to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst
poultry and other captive birds.
From 12 noon on Tuesday 10 November, it will be a legal
requirement for all bird keepers in Scotland to follow strict
biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from avian flu.
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.
There have been six cases of avian influenza in kept birds in
Great Britain this season (October-April), two in Scotland (one
backyard flock on the Isle of Lewis and one in an egg producer in
the Scottish Borders), and four cases in England.
Since 21 October nine of the 65 dead wild birds in Great Britain
have tested positive for avian influenza. Of these, 56 were from
England, 8 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 advises that the risk to public health
from the virus is very low and Food Standards Scotland advises
that avian influenzas pose 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.
Background
Avian influenza (bird flu)
outbreaks - gov.scot
Avian influenza (bird
flu): how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot
Wild bird surveillance -
Avian influenza (bird flu): how to spot and report the disease -
gov.scot
Flu Poultry workers leaflet
The AIPZ means bird keepers across
Scotland must:
- Keep free-ranging birds within fenced areas, and ponds,
watercourses and permanent standing water must be fenced off
(except in specific circumstances, e.g. zoo birds)
- Cleanse and disinfect footwear and keep areas where birds
live clean and tidy;
- Minimise movement in and out of bird enclosures;
- Reduce any existing contamination by cleansing and
disinfecting concrete areas, and fencing off wet or boggy areas
- Keep domestic ducks and geese separate from other poultry
- Ensure the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to
wild birds, for example by netting ponds, and by removing wild
bird food sources;
- Feed and water birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild
birds;
Bird keepers should familiarise themselves with our avian flu
advice at www.gov.scot/avianinfluenza and
report suspicion of disease to your local APHA Field Services Office.
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone will be in place until
further notice and will be kept under regular review as part of
the government's work to monitor and manage the risks of bird
flu.
Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you
find. Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious
to people. In Great Britain, if you find at the same time:
- a single dead bird of prey, swan, goose, duck or gull or
- five or more dead wild birds of any other species
you should report them on gov.uk's report dead wild birds page.
All bird keepers (with exclusions) are legally required to
register their bird(s) location(s) and update details at least
annually on the Scottish Kept Bird
Register. Registration is free, quick and simple.
