Bird flu warning

East Renfrewshire Council have issued a warning to locals to keep their animals safe as bird-flu has been identified in wild birds.

The Scottish SPCA has confirmed that the deadly bird flu has been identified in two fowl in Angus and Fife.

It comes after tight restrictions have been imposed after bird flu was also found in a flock at a farm in Scotland.

All remaining birds at the farm will be culled while authorities have put up a restriction zone in order to limit the risk of the disease.

Now, East Renfrewshire Council have issued a warning to‘please be vigilant’and look out for dead birds.

It comes after the Scottish Government announced“appropriate restrictions” have been put in place to stop the spread of avian influenza or H5N1 in Angus.

Three-kilometre and 10K temporary control zones have been created where a number of controls are currently in place.

The movement of poultry, carcasses, eggs, used poultry litter and manure will all be restriction in the zones.

Public health advice is that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers, and cooked poultry products including eggs are safe to eat.

A statement from the Scottish SPCA said:“Bird flu has been identified in two wild birds in Scotland. One in Fife and another in Angus.

“There are also reports of avian influenza having been identified in wild birds across the UK.

“The risk to human health is low but please be vigilant and report any findings of dead wild birds.

“If you find a single dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks), a single dead bird of prey, or five or more dead wild birds of any other species (including gulls) at the same place at the same time, you should report them to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s national helpline by phoning 03459 33 55 77 - please select option 7.

“Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds.

“Keepers of birds are not being asked to house birds at this time but this may change over the winter.”