From 12 noon, yesterday, Tuesday 10 November, it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Scotland to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from avian flu.
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.”
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.
Scottish Ministers have carried out a risk assessment and consider an avian influenza prevention zone necessary to reduce the risk of transmission to poultry and other captive birds in Scotland from wild birds or from any other source.
- measures applying to all keepers of poultry or other captive birds.
- Avian influenza (bird flu) in Europe, Russia and the UK
