A Fife poultry farm has been sealed off after a suspected case of bird flu was detected at the premises.
Staff at Craigies Poultry Farm, around a mile north of Townhill, are preparing to cull hundreds of chickens after a strain of the virus was identified on the premises at the weekend.
Though further testing is under way, the entire stock of birds will be culled as a precautionary measure, sparking alarm throughout the industry.
Though there was little activity at the site this morning, the premises have been sealed off while staff wearing protective clothing worked their way through the sheds containing the birds.
A statement from the farm owners is still awaited, but the National Farmers Union has placed its members on alert amid fears any virus could spread.
The NFU Scotland’s vice-president, Andrew McCornick, said: “Given the number of cases of low pathogenic avian influenza seen across Europe and in the UK, often linked to migratory birds and wildfowl, this is a worrying but not unexpected outbreak.
.@scotgov's map of the 1km bird flu protection zone around a Fife farm https://t.co/NbZV7PESTD pic.twitter.com/5Q0IIeZZkM
— Richard Rooney (@C_RRooney) January 11, 2016
“It is welcome that, at the earliest opportunity, experts have reminded the public that the implications for human health and food safety are very low. This is an animal health matter and one that all stakeholders are taking very seriously.
“With the industry’s well-rehearsed contingency plans now coming into force, the hope is that this outbreak is quickly contained and the threat to other commercial poultry flocks is eliminated.
“Biosecurity on all poultry units must be maintained and, given the number of low pathogenic avian influenza cases being recorded across Europe, it is likely that those high standards are already commonplace. High health is something that Scottish poultry producers have always taken great pride in.
“However, it is worth reminding all poultry keepers large and small of the need for vigilance. Given the growing number of people keeping backyard hens, it is worth restating that avian influenza is a notifiable disease and that all poultry keepers have an obligation to notify the authorities if they suspect disease.
“Backyard hens can often be at higher risk because of their closer contact with wild birds.”
A temporary control zone, prohibiting the movement of poultry and other birds with one kilometre of the affected farm, has been put in place by the Scottish Government, which has reiterated that the risk to human health is minimal.
Scotland’s chief veterinary officer, Sheila Voas, said: “We have taken immediate action to contain this case as part of our robust procedures for dealing swiftly with avian flu.
“Evidence suggests this is a low severity form of the virus however we are taking action to ensure that the disease does not spread or develop into a more severe form.
“I would urge poultry keepers in the surrounding area to be vigilant for any signs of disease and to ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises.”
The Scottish Government’s rural affairs secretary, Richard Lochhead, added: “Livestock owners and the general public should be assured that we are doing everything we can to control and prevent the spread of the disease.”
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