Further concerns raised as two more cases of bird flu identified in Aberdeenshire
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Further concerns have been raised over what a local MP has called the Scottish Government’s “wall of silence” after two more cases of avian flu were detected in the Turriff area.
Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid has again written to rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon over her lack of action to stop the spread of the disease as outbreaks were identified at farms near Banff on Sunday and near Turriff on Friday.
The latest declarations of 3km protection zones and 10km surveillance zones were made for Strath of Brydock Poultry Farm, Alvah near Banff
and at Ashogle Farm just north of Turriff.
These add to the existing zones at Logie Newton and Woodhead of Laithers meaning that the majority of the Deveron Valley from Huntly all the way to Portsoy is now within the zones.
A 3 km protection zone and 10 km surveillance zone have been set up while veterinary investigations are carried out to establish the source of the disease.
The total means half of all Scotland’s avian flu cases have now been found in Banff and Buchan.
Mr Duguid said the situation in his constituency is becoming “more and more urgent” and has urged the Scottish Government to enforce the same procedure as England by keeping all poultry and captive birds indoors.
He said: “This wall of silence from the Scottish Government is totally inexcusable during such a devastating time for our poultry farmers.
"These two new cases are further evidence that the situation in the north-east is getting worse, not better.
“Half of all Scotland’s cases are now in my constituency of Banff and Buchan which is extremely alarming.
“The Scottish Government needs to do something to prevent the further spread of this deadly disease because the situation in the north-east is rapidly becoming more and more urgent.”
In his letter to Mairi Gougeon, Mr Duguid said: “I write to you after news over the weekend that a further two farms in my constituency have confirmed avian flu cases.
“As you are aware, the UK Government has taken preventative steps in England to minimise further spread of avian flu and to protect food supplies.
“With the number of cases in Banff and Buchan steadily and inevitably rising, I reiterate the concerns raised by NFU Scotland which believes it is a serious mistake not to follow the steps taken by the UK Government in England, and that the same measures should be put in place in Scotland to protect more farms from potentially being infected.
“I appreciate bio-security measures are already in place and that these are normally the most effective steps to take. However, it should be clear by now that these measures are insufficient on their own.
“NFU Scotland recently warned of potential shortages this Christmas owing to the danger of avian flu in wild birds spreading to poultry flocks that remain outside.
“If not implementing housing orders, I urgently seek clarity on behalf of poultry farmers in my constituency, on what measures the Scottish Government is taking to protect captive birds, businesses and food supplies this winter.”
