Rural Payments and Services

The Scottish Government can confirm an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in a commercial premises near Banff, Aberdeenshire. This is the 23rd outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in Scotland within the 2022-23 outbreak season.

A 3 km Protection Zone and 10 km Surveillance Zone have been placed around the infected premises, meaning the application of movement restrictions within these zones, such as poultry, carcases, eggs, used poultry litter and manure, to prevent any further spread of disease.

The risk to the general public’s health from avian influenza is very low. However, the risk to people with intensive exposure to infected birds is considered to be low. Food Standards Scotland advises that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for consumers, and it does not affect the consumption of poultry products, including eggs.

Background

The public in Great Britain are being advised that if they find:

• a single dead bird of prey, swan, goose, duck or gull, or
• five or more dead wild birds of any other species

at the same time, you should report them to GB dead wild bird monitoring scheme operated by Defra.

Alternatively, you can phone the GB phone helpline: 03459 33 55 77. If you wish to submit a report without providing contact details, then the telephone helpline should be used. You must be 18 or over to use this service to report dead wild birds.

Vigilance by bird keepers is important and any suspicion of disease in Scotland should be reported immediately to the local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Field Services Office. More information about avian influenza, including biosecurity guidance, is available at www.gov.scot/avianinfluenza .