Poultry farm isolated in Scotland after detecting bird flu cases

Scottish health authorities set up today a security cordon around a poultry farm in the county of Fife after detecting several cases of bird flu and ordered the cull of all birds on the farm.

Health Protection Scotland confirmed the establishment of a 1kilometer control zone around the farm, in addition to restricting the movement of animals in the area, although the virus is considered a “low pathogenic strain.”

Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Sheila Voas said the strain of avian flu found in some birds was H5 and would be analyzed in the laboratory to test its virulence.

“Evidence suggests this is a low severity form of the virus however we are taking action to ensure that the disease does not spread or develop into a more severe form,” she explained.

Voas asked farmers to be aware of any possible cases of the virus and strengthen health checks on their farms.

Jim McMenamin, consultant epidemiologist and respiratory infection lead for Health Protection Scotland, emphasized that the risk of the virus to human health is “very low.”