Protection zone set up after outbreak of bird flu in Angus
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Scottish government stresses that risk to public is low, as chief veterinary officer says it is first outbreak since 2023. A protection zone has been set up after an outbreak of bird flu in Angus, Scotland’s chief veterinary officer has said. On Friday night Sheila Voas said a 10km (6.8-mile) surveillance zone was also declared around the area as well as the 3km protection zone in Kirriemuir after a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was reported.
According to the declaration published on the Scottish government’s website, the affected premises is Over Ascreavie House, Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir. The restrictions will stop the movement of poultry, carcasses, eggs, used poultry litter and manure to prevent the disease from spreading.
A statement from the Scottish government, signed by Voas, said: “The chief veterinary officer (Scotland) has formed the opinion that highly pathogenic avian influenza exists, or has in the previous 56 days existed, on-premises and has informed the Scottish Ministers of that conclusion.”.
The outbreak is the first case of avian illness in Scotland since the summer of 2023, when, Voas said, “almost all” of the 32,000 infected chickens found on one Aberdeenshire farm had to be culled in July. Aberdeen city council said 100 dead birds were collected from the city’s beach over a fortnight during the same timeframe, and Aberdeenshire council said it found more than 300 dead birds on its beaches simultaneously.
