Scotland's largest egg producer hit with third outbreak of bird flu
Tens of thousands of birds have been culled across the south of Scotland.
One of Scotland’s largest egg producers has been hit by a third outbreak of a “highly pathogenic” strain of bird flu in less than a fortnight.
The latest outbreak has been reported at Easter Deans and Blairburn in West Linton in the Borders, which is owned by Glenrath Farms.
A 1.8 mile (3km) protection zone and a 10 km (6.6 mile) surveillance zone have been established around the site.
The case comes less than a month after the first infection was detected locally and is the fourth confirmed incident in the area since mid-December.
It brings the total number of cases reported across Scotland this winter to seven.
Biosecurity measures have been in place between Penicuik and Peebles since before Christmas when avian flu was first detected in the Borders.
It has been reported a cull of 200,000 birds was ordered at Glenrath’s Millennium Farm site - the second of the company’s farms to have been hit by avian flu.
Glenrath’s owners have been contacted for comment.
Another farm affected in the last month - Whim Poultry Farm in West Linton - had to have some 76,000 birds from one shed culled in December.
The first case in the area was reported in the week before Christmas on land straddling the Borders and Midlothian boundary. Separate cases of the virus have been detected further north near Blairgowrie in Perth and Kinross.
The outbreak of avian flu has affected large scale commercial producers as well as small businesses.
Scotland’s chief veterinary officer Jesus Gallego Garnica said the latest detection involved the H5N1 strain, the dominant form of avian influenza seen in recent years.
Mr Garnica told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live earlier this month that the situation was concerning - but not unexpected.
The vet said the cases reflected a seasonal trend rather than an unexpected surge.
He said that the impact on egg supplies was likely to be limited as the number of farms affected represented only a "small fraction" of the total volume of eggs sold in the UK.
Glenrath Farms, a family-owned business founded in 1959, is one of Britain’s leading egg producers, supplying more than a million eggs a day.
Industry figures suggest the overall UK egg production is estimated to reach to about 12 billion eggs a year, with a further 2 billion imported.
As outbreaks continue, bird keepers who suspect avian influenza in kept birds in Scotland have a duty to report their concerns immediately.
Those keeping birds within a protection zone following an outbreak must record the name and address of any person visiting part of the premises where poultry or birds are kept. A record must also be kept of whether that person had any contact with the birds and if any of the poultry entered or left the premises.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is working with poultry farmers, including affected farms, to minimise the possibility of new infections through the best possible biosecurity.
“These strict biosecurity measures ensure eggs and poultry remain safe for consumers and the risk to those with intensive exposure to infected birds is low.
“Whilst our first consideration is always animal welfare and human health protection, we are also working with industry to ensure egg supplies are maintained.”
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