Just a week after the Scottish Government lifted the bird flu prevention zone order, a new outbreak has been confirmed in Aberdeenshire.

The latest outbreak, the twenty third recorded in Scotland within the 2022-2023 season was found in commercial premises near Banff.

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A 3 km Protection Zone and 10 km Surveillance Zone have been placed around the infected premises, meaning the application of movement restrictions within these zones, such as poultry, carcases, eggs, used poultry litter and manure, to prevent any further spread of disease.

The Scottish Government says the risk to the general public’s health from avian influenza is very 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.

A bird flu prevention zone order was introduced in Scotland in late 2022 and lifted last week in Scotland and the rest of Great Britain, although bird gatherings for certain species remain prohibited in Scotland, England and Wales.

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The Scottish Government stressed that although the risk of bird flu to poultry and other captive birds had reduced in Scotland, low risk did not mean no risk, and keepers are being encouraged to continue implementing strong biosecurity measures as infection is still present in the environment and amongst wild birds in GB.

It is mandatory to report all suspect cases of notifiable avian disease to the local Animal and Plant Health Agency office.