Chamber and committees

Avian flu cases in Scotland, letter of 8 December 2021

Letter to the Convener from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, 8 December 2021

Dear Finlay,

I am sorry to be writing again so soon after my previous letter of 24 November, which informed you about the recurrence of avian influenza in GB this year. Numbers of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 continue to increase in domestic birds with there now being 38 confirmed cases in the UK (31 in England, three in Wales, two in Northern Ireland and two in Scotland, as at 7 December 2021).

The second Scottish case of HPAI H5N1 is in a flock of free-range hens on a premises near Lockerbie and the required 3 km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10 km Surveillance Zone (SZ) have been declared, taking effect at 00:01 (am) on 4 December. The birds on the infected premises are being humanely euthanised and the site will then undergo cleansing and disinfection.

HPAI has now been confirmed in 235 wild bird carcases throughout the UK (31 confirmed in Scotland, but this is likely to rise). A considerable number of wild birds (early estimates suggest circa 1,000) have been found dead in the Solway Firth and this is under investigation to determine whether there is any link to avian influenza.

As indicated in my letter of 24 November, the risk of incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 infection in wild birds remains at VERY HIGH (event occurs almost certainly). The risk of poultry and captive bird exposure to HPAI H5 across GB also remains at HIGH (with low uncertainty) where biosecurity is sub-optimal, and remains at MEDIUM (with low uncertainty) where stringent biosecurity measures are applied.

And to reiterate, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) remains in place across the UK to strengthen biosecurity requirements and require housing of all poultry and captive birds, which means that it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease. This AIPZ will remain in place until the risk of HPAI decreases.

The Scottish Government continues to work with its operational partners in Scotland and across the rest of the UK to keep poultry and other captive bird owners informed about the measures they can take to prevent further avian influenza cases. Messages are regularly issued to poultry keepers by text message, as well as through social media.

Due to the threat of avian influenza from wild birds, it is possible there will be more cases found in poultry in Scotland, despite the introduction of the mandatory biosecurity and housing measures in the AIPZ.

Again, I appreciate that such news will be disappointing to all members of the Committee, as it is to me. HPAI H5N1 is becoming part of the annual cycle for poultry and other captive bird owners and hopefully in response to that, they will maintain increased biosecurity at all times throughout the year.

I am sure you will appreciate that any suspicion of a notifiable disease, such as avian influenza, should be reported immediately to the local Animal and Plant Health Agency office in Perth on 03000 600 704.

Needless to say, should you have any questions, officials will be happy to answer these. In the first instance, you should contact Sheila Voas, Chief Veterinary Officer Scotland.

Yours sincerely,

Mairi Gougeon