Flu fears tighten bird security

Poultr y and bird keepers (including pet birds) have been ordered to take stringent biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of a virulent form of bird flu circulating in a number of wild species in the UK and across Europe.

In an attempt to stop the highly pathogenic avian i n f l u e n z a ( H PA I ) H 5 N 8 entering domestic flocks, the S cottish government has declared a prevention zone across the countr y, mirroring a similar move in England and Wales.

Rural affairs minister, Mairi Gougeon urged all bird keepers to maintain and strengthen their farm biosecurity measu r e s t o p r e ve n t t h e d i s e a s e s p r e a d i n g wh i l e S c o t l a n d ’s chief veterinar y officer Sheila Voas said the risk had been raised from low to medium for poultry – but in wild birds this had moved up to high.

“I t i s n o r ma l t o s e e t h e s e v i r u s e s c i r c u l a t i n g a m o n g wild bird populations at this t i m e o f y e a r, h o we v e r t h e strain seen in Europe appears t o b e p a r t i c u l a r l y v i r u l e n t which is a cause for some concern”, said Voas.

“Consumers should not be concerned about eating eggs or poultry given the expert advice ab out fo o d safet y and human health.”

S h e r e mi n d e d ke e p e r s that avian influenza was a notifiable animal disease and anyone suspecting it should repor t it immediately, adding failure to do so was an offence.

T h e c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s e q u a t e to a v i r t u a l l o c k - d o w n o n p o u l t r y, w i t h o w n e r s b e i n g r e q u i r e d to take measures to stop domestic and wild birds c o n g r e g a t i n g a n d t o ensure that b oth p eople a n d v e h i c l e s t r a v e l l i n g between units were effectively disinfected.