Latest north-east avian flu case confirmed in Peterhead

Scotland’s Avian Flu Task Force remains on high alert following an increase in reports of dead seabirds around coasts.

In recent weeks monitoring by NatureScot and partners, including the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), RSPB Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland, has revealed worrying signs that more seabirds may be succumbing to the virus.

In particular there has been a rise in reports of dead kittiwakes, black-headed gulls, herring gulls, terns and guillemots being washed up on the east coast of Scotland, stretching from Wick in Caithness to St Abbs in Berwickshire.

In recent days bird flu was confirmed at a farm near Banff and Aberdeenshire Council has been removing dead birds from beaches in Stonehaven and Cruden Bay.

The latest incident was confirmed on Saturday evening at a domestic premises on Kirk Street in Peterhead, but given the nature of the confirmed case it has been deemed a special category premises due to its non-commercial nature.

As a result of this and based on a veterinary risk assessment, no new disease control zones have been applied.

So far in Scotland this spring and summer, testing has confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Sandwich tern, common tern, kittiwake, herring gull, black-headed gull and guillemot.

The virus has been confirmed at NatureScot’s Forvie National Nature Reserve (NNR) in black-headed gulls and Sandwich terns, with more than 200 Sandwich terns having died at the reserve.

Signs of avian flu have also been spotted in common and Arctic terns at Forvie with further test results awaited.

Members of the public should avoid touching sick or dead wild birds and visitors to coastal areas are advised to keep their dogs on a lead to avoid them picking up dead birds.

If they find a single dead bird of prey, swan, goose, duck or gull or five or more dead wild birds of any other species at the same time, they should report them on gov.uk's 'Report dead wild birds' page.

Alternatively, they can phone the GB phone helpline: 03459 33 55 77.

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