Bird flu prevention zone set up across Scotland after increase in cases

A national bird flu prevention zone has been declared across Scotland and England following an increase in the number of cases among wild birds and other captive birds.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been announced to minimise the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and other captive birds.

From 12pm on January 25, it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Scotland and England to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu.

Surveillance has indicated that the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus is currently circulating in wild birds in the UK and their risk to poultry and other captive birds is currently assessed as being very high.

Keepers with more than 500 birds will need to restrict access for non-essential people on their sites, workers will need to change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and site vehicles will need to be cleansed and disinfected regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

Backyard owners with smaller numbers of poultry, including chickens, ducks and geese, must also take steps to limit the risk of the disease spreading to their animals.

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 deputy chief vet officer Jesus Gallego said: “While the risk to public health is very low, we are currently experiencing a heightened risk of an incursion from this virus 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 effect that this, often devastating virus, can have on Scottish kept birds”.

The prevention zone means keeping free-ranging birds within fenced areas, cleansing and disinfecting footwear and keeping areas where birds live clean and tidy, minimising movement in and out of bird enclosures, disinfecting concrete areas and fencing off wet or boggy areas, keeping domestic ducks and geese separate from other poultry, keep areas unattractive to wild birds and feeding and watering in an enclosed area.