It follows Aberdeenshire council reported that upwards of 300 dead birds have actually been discovered cleaned up on coasts in the regional authority’s beaches just recently.
Sheila Voas, the chief veterinary officer for Scotland, said the variety of cases of bird influenza had actually not just increased in the recently, which cases have actually been discovered “not just in Aberdeenshire but across the whole country”.
She informed BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland program: “The whole of the east coast of Great Britain is expecting problems, particularly with gulls, guillemots and terns.”
Ms Voas likewise said that “almost all” 32,000 chickens contaminated with the health problem at an Aberdeenshire farm have actually been chosen.
LEARN MORE: Bird influenza ‘high alert’ after numerous dead birds discovered on Scottish beaches
She included that regardless of the high numbers, the threat aspect stays low.
Producers dealing with poultry ought to take suitable security steps to reduce the opportunities of a break out, she said, and members of the general public, consisting of dog walkers, need to keep away from dead birds.
Ms Voas said there are steps that can be put in location if a break out ends up being considerable enough, such as avoidance zones and the required housing of birds.
Asked if she is considering this, she said she is “keeping the situation under review”.
She included: “At the minute, it’s not called for however that’s something that might alter on an everyday or weekly basis.
“To be honest, it’s unusual at this time of year. It’s generally a disease of winter when it’s brought back to the country by water foul migrating.”
Elsewhere in the nation, Fife council verified they have actually not had actually any reported cases of the influenza since yet, however have steps in location if required.
Moray Council said they have up until now just had one case of bird influenza verified in recent months.
A representative said: “To date, we’ve not received any reports of thought cases or real cases of bird influenza in Moray, aside from the verified case in the back garden flock near Forres.
“We would encourage anyone concerned about bird flu to follow the Scottish Government advice on what to do.”
LEARN MORE: Hundreds of dead birds continue to clean up in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeen City Council said they have actually gathered about 100 dead birds from the city’s beach in the previous 2 weeks.
A representative said: “Aberdeen City Council is keeping an active check on the beach for dead birds and would remind the public that if they come across dead birds to report it to Aberdeen City Council. This can be done via the council website or by phoning 03000 200 292.”
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the National Trust for Scotland jointly voiced their issue that an birds are passing away of the infection at an increased rate.
They revealed there have actually been reports of dead birds being cleaned up from Wick in Caithness to St Abbs in Berwickshire.
The infection has actually likewise been discovered at NatureScot’s Forvie National Nature Reserve (NNR) in black-headed gulls and sandwich terns.
Signs of bird influenza has actually likewise been identified in both typical and arctic terns at the reserve and kittiwakes on the Isle of May NNR have actually evaluated positive, with the death toll increasing.
Alastair MacGugan, a NatureScot wildlife supervisor, said screening is essential to unwinding what is occurring with the nation’s seabirds.
He said: “Unfortunately, after a quieter duration, we are starting to see a boost in the variety of dead birds being reported through our security network, especially on the east coast.
“While we are thankfully not seeing the large numbers of dead birds around breeding sites that we did last year, this development is really concerning and we’re working hard with all partners in Scotland’s Avian Flu Task Force to understand what is happening and take action to make our wild bird populations more resilient.”
Dr Liz Humphreys, BTO Scotland primary seabird ecologist, said: “It’s clear that our seabirds are still being badly affected by HPAI, despite the fact the scale of mortality initially seemed less catastrophic than last year.”
She advised members of the general public to send all sightings of dead birds to BirdTrack and the dead wild birds service.
The Scottish Government verified steps to stop the spread remain in location around the properties in Aberdeenshire.
A representative said: “A 3km security zone and 10km security zone have actually been put around the contaminated properties, implying the application of motion limitations within these zones, such as poultry, carcases, eggs, utilized poultry litter and manure, to avoid any more spread of illness.
“The threat to the public’s health from bird influenza is extremely low.
“However, the threat to individuals with extensive direct exposure to contaminated birds is thought about to be low.
“Food Standards Scotland advises that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for consumers, and it does not affect the consumption of poultry products, including eggs.”
Sightings of dead birds can be reported at or by telephoning the helpline on: 03459 33 55 77.
