Scottish wild bird highly pathogenic avian influenza response plan
This document sets out the approach that the Scottish Government and its agencies will take to respond to an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in wild birds in Scotland.
Legislative Framework for HPAI in wild birds
35. Legislation is in place to respond to the identification of strains of HPAIV in wild birds or their carcasses which are a significant risk to human and animal health. The Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) (Scotland) Order 2007 provides for controlled areas around the location of where findings of HPAI H5N1 in wild birds are identified. Control measures are outlined in paragraphs 214 - 225 of the Notifiable Avian Diseases Control Strategy for GB and provide for the implementation controls identified in Table 2 below. It is not Scottish Government policy to cull wild birds, although powers exist to do this. As its aim is preventing the spread of the disease to poultry or other captive birds, and to humans and other mammals for a specific strain of H5N1, the legislation would not be suitable to support mitigation measures that are identified to help in the conservation of wild birds impacted by outbreaks of HPAI which are not a significant risk to human and animal health.
36. The Scottish HPAI task force has identified a number of activities (see Table 3) that may affect wild bird HPAI transmission or significantly impact on bird survival. These measures, along with some of the controls available under The Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) (Scotland) Order 2007, may be able to form the current framework of mitigating action.
37. Scottish Government will continue to keep legislation under review when considering our response to HPAI on the basis of current advice.
38. Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease in poultry and other captive birds but is not notifiable in wild birds.
| Restrictions in Zone(s) |
Wild Bird Control Area (WBCA) |
Wild Bird Monitoring area (WBMA) |
|---|---|---|
| Default radius (km) |
3 |
10 |
| Minimum length of time in place since the collection of samples from the infected wild bird (days) |
21[1] |
30 |
| Movement restrictions – poultry or other captive birds |
Y |
Y |
| Movement restrictions – hatching eggs |
Y |
N |
| Movement restrictions – bird by-products |
Y |
N |
| Restrictions/Requirements – controlled meat |
Y |
N |
| Restrictions – poultry/other captive bird manure |
Y |
N |
| Biosecurity |
Y |
Y |
| Ban on bird gatherings |
Y |
Y |
| Ban on the release of game birds |
Y |
Y |
| Ban on hunting/taking of wild birds |
Y |
Y |
[1] See paragraphs 10-11 for circumstances where this may become part of the WBMA before this date.
Contact
Email: marine_species@gov.scot
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