Over 100,000 birds culled at Scottish farms amid avian flu outbreak

The number of birds culled at three Scottish farms has topped 100,000 amid the UK’s worst ever outbreak of avian influenza.

It comes after new measures to keep all poultry and captive birds indoors were introduced in England.

Supplies of some egg ranges to supermarkets have also been disrupted by the outbreak, with Asda moving to limit the number of eggs that customers can buy to two boxes until further notice.

The National Farmers Union Scotland has indicated that 72,000 birds were “taken out” at two farms in Aberdeenshire over the last 10 days.

Billy Robb, a farmer from Ayrshire, also told BBC Scotland that he lost 32,000 hens in the last week.

It brings the total reported to 104,000 in Scotland.

At least 15 swans have been found dead at a park in Glasgow this week thought to be at the centre of a bird flu outrbreak.

Three of the birds removed from Hogganfield Park by investigations from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs were tested for the highly pathogenic virus.

Following the discovery of the swans, Glasgow City Council said that there were no plans for a cull.

However, they added that further deaths were “likely” as an island in the middle of the nature reserve’s loch was “inaccessible” at that time.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “Staff from DEFRA have visited the park to remove three swans to test for the disease, but in-line with advice from DEFRA, we are assuming the birds have died from avian flu.

“We are monitoring our parks regularly and will seek to remove any dead birds as quickly as possible.

“Members of the public are advised to avoid any contact with a dead bird or any bird that appears to be visibly sick. Dog owners are also advised to keep their pets on a lead while in the park in case they encounter a dead bird.

“If anyone sees a dead or sick bird in public places across the city, they should report this to our environmental health team through our website or by calling 0141 287 1059.”