We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience.

Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies.

Set cookie preferences

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Publication - Advice and guidance

Avian influenza (bird flu): how to spot and report the disease

Last updated
1 December 2024 - see all updates
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic
Farming and rural

Advice on what to do if you suspect there is an outbreak of avian influenza.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Avian influenza

Avian influenza (bird flu) mainly affects birds. It can also affect humans and other animals.

Read the latest avian influenza outbreak situation in Scotland, including details of the current disease response plan. 

Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect any type of avian influenza in poultry, other captive birds or animals you must report it immediately by contacting your local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.

Compulsory bird registration: anyone who keeps birds, including pets, must register their bird(s) location(s). Find out how to register as a bird keeper.

Clinical signs

Avian influenza viruses can be classified according to their ability to cause severe disease (pathogenicity) as either highly pathogenic or low pathogenic. The viruses are described by their major antigen determinants, H (for haemagglutinin) and N (neuraminidase).

In birds we are mainly concerned with H5 and H7 subtypes. It is known that the LPAI H5 and H7 virus subtypes can mutate into the highly pathogenic form that causes serious illness and deaths in birds, although in water fowl the disease may not be apparent.

Signs of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI)

Typically, infection with LPAI is often difficult to detect, with very few if any clinical signs.

An infected flock might show signs of respiratory distress, diarrhoea, a loss of appetite or a drop in egg production of more than 5%.

If you are suspicious your flock has any form of avian influenza you must contact your local animal health office immediately.

Signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

Typically this form of the disease presents suddenly, often with very high mortality, with affected birds developing swollen heads, a blue colouration of the comb and wattles, dullness, lack of appetite, respiratory distress, diarrhoea and significant drop in egg production.

However, there can be considerable variation in the clinical picture and severity of the disease.

If you suspect signs of any notifiable diseases, you must report it immediately by contacting your local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence. Sign up to the APHA Alerts Service to keep up to date with the latest news.

How to unsubscribe from receiving disease alerts

If you have already subscribed to this service from APHA and no longer wish to receive these disease alerts, complete the information on the subscriptions page. You will then have the option to update your subscription.

Human health implications

Some strains of bird flu can pass to humans but this is very rare. It usually requires very close contact between humans and infected birds. Find out more at: bird flu and human health. 

Contact

Email: Animal.Health@gov.scot (However, only report dead wild bird findings via 03459 33 55 77).

Animal Health and Welfare 
Scottish Government
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Saughton House
Edinburgh

Related information

First published
19 March 2021
Last updated
1 December 2024 - show all updates

  1. Minor updates to bird registration page.

  2. Text updates in licencing and register your birds sections.

  3. Minor text update in licensing section.

  4. Register your bird page amendment made to website address under the registration in England and Wales section.

  5. Updated with details of new bird registration requirements.

  6. Updated with details of the process for the Scottish Kept Bird Register which will go live on 1 September 2024.

  7. Updates to risk level on Wild bird surveillance.

  8. Added The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 to legislation page.

  9. Updated the 'register your birds' page. Added information about the new Scottish Kept Bird Register.

  10. Changed wild bird risk from high to medium.

  11. Updated information on general licence on bird gatherings.

  12. Updated legislation page to amend broken link for preventative measures.

  13. addition of details on The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s GB Avian Influenza Wildlife Interactive Map and Data Dashboard to the Dead or sick wild birds page

  14. Added revised small flock holders checklist to downloads page.

  15. Chapter on avian influenza and pets updated.

  16. Updates to dead or sick wild bird section.

  17. Update to risk level on Wild bird surveillance.

  18. Added new section on pets and pet birds.

  19. Updates to risk level on Wild bird surveillance.

  20. Clinical signs page updated to include reference Low pathogenic avian influenza (LAPI) H7N3 being confirmed in Scotland.

  21. Minor text change to 'Dead or sick wild birds: what to do'.

  22. Updated Wild birds surveillance.

  23. Updated general licences information in the licensing chapter.

  24. Updated Biosecurity.

  25. Removed links on Biosecurity.

  26. Updated dead or sick wild birds page.

  27. Updated Wild bird surveillance.

  28. Minor text updates to How to control avian influenza.

  29. Updated Wild bird surveillance.

  30. Updated Dead or sick wild birds: what to do.

  31. Minor text updates to Higher risk areas (HRAs).

  32. What do do page and wild bird surveillance pages updated.

  33. What do do page and wild bird surveillance pages updated.

  34. Reviewed and updated to link to latest avian influenza declaration because housing measures have been lifted.

  35. What do do page updated.

  36. Updated Clinical signs.

  37. Updates to Licensing.

  38. Updates to Licensing.

  39. Updated contact details.

  40. Legislation page amended to add link to the Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Birds etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendment and Revocation) (Scotland) Order 2021.

  41. Update text.

  42. Update hyperlinks

  43. Update text.

  44. Updates to Licensing page.

  45. Updates to Licensing page.

  46. Update to general licence information.

  47. Updated Risk level text on Wild bird surveillance.

  48. Minor update to wild bird surveillance and dead or sick wild birds: what to do.

  49. Updated dead or sick wild bird chapter.

  50. Updated to link to recent reports of cases.

  51. Updated to reflect wild bird surveillance findings.

  52. Updated self-assessment checklist on Biosecurity page.

  53. Added link to movement of poultry by-products and hatching eggs licence to licensing page.

  54. Updates to latest situation.

  55. Added link to movement of table eggs general licence to licensing page.

  56. 'Game birds' section added to Latest situation.

  57. Licensing section updated with link to movement of poultry carcases general licence

  58. Wild bird surveillance section on latest outbreaks page updated.

  59. Minor formatting amendments to licensing page.

  60. Licensing page updated to add link to movement of samples for salmonella testing: general licence.

  61. Amended Dead or sick wild birds: what to do.

  62. Licensing page updated to add link to movement of mammals general licence.

  63. Updated licensing page.

  64. Link to application requesting exemption to restrictions on licensing page amended.

  65. Latest situation updated.

  66. Licence section updated to reflect latest situation.

  67. Changes to Latest situation.

  68. Added link to latest situation publication.

  69. Updated Latest situation.

  70. Updated Latest situation.

  71. Updated Latest situation.

  72. Minor textual changes to Latest situation.

  73. Latest situation updated.

  74. Latest situation updated.

  75. Dead or sick wild birds information updated.

  76. Update to bird gatherings permitted section.

  77. Minor updates to make content clearer.

  78. Latest situation updated with information about general licence for bird gatherings.

  79. Latest situation updated with information about housing measures lifted on 31 March (23:59 hrs).

  80. Link to risk assessment guide and AIPZ declaration added.

  81. Latest situation information updated with information about the Housing order to be lifted 23:59 31 March, but Avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) still in place.

  82. Declaration of end of protection zone and revocation of restricted zone for Glenrothes area.

  83. Latest situation information updated.

  84. Updated to include information about highly pathogenic strain, PZ and SZ specifications and general licence on mammal movement.

  85. Latest situation information updated re declaration of two Temporary Control Zones in Glenrothes.

  86. Latest situation information updated.

  87. Wild bird surveillance information updated.

  88. Updated the licencing page to say the licence has been revoked.

  89. Latest situation information updated.

  90. Update adding link to end of surveillance zone protection declaration, and additional locations for presence of H5 vaccine

  91. Duck, geese and gamebirds poster added as well as link to Avian Influenza Prevention Zone poster.

  92. Latest situation information updated.

  93. Latest situation information updated.

  94. Added new section on licencing for Protection and Surveillance Zones.

  95. Updated latest information section.

  96. Information about disposing of dead wild birds found on private property added.

  97. Latest situation information updated.

  98. Latest situation information updated.

  99. Latest situation information updated.

  100. Latest situation information updated.

  101. Latest situation information updated.

  102. Latest situation information updated.

  103. information added to the dead or sick wild birds: what to do section

  104. Latest situation information updated to include Avian influenza H5N8 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) has been confirmed in poultry and captive birds at a premises near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

  105. Latest situation information updated.

  106. Latest situated information updated to reflect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the H5N8 strain has been confirmed in broiler breeder chickens at a premises near Leominster in Herefordshire.

  107. Latest situated information updated to reflect the declaration of an Avian influenza Prevention Zone has been declared across the whole of Scotland as of 17:00 on 11 November 2020.

  108. Latest situation updated to reflect two unrelated confirmed cases of avian influenza in England and increasing reports of avian influenza affecting flocks in mainland Europe.

  109. Pathogen information updated to reflect latest results.

  110. Latest information updated to include links to 2 new outbreaks of Avian Influenza in Cheshire and Kent.

  111. Latest situation updated to reflect the fact that here are currently no restrictions.

  112. Original publication date.

Back to top