Friday 29 March 2024
 6.1°C   SE Light Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / Bird flu order

Poultry must be kept indoors and separate from wild birds.

POULTY owners in Shetland are being advised to either keep birds indoors or otherwise separate from wild birds following a bird flu alert.

The whole of Scotland has been declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone by Health Protection Scotland. The zone applies to all poultry and captive birds, regardless of species.

The threat to public health from this strain of avian influenza H5N8 has been described as “very low”.

However, the order remains in place until 5pm on 6 January 2017.

Public health professionals advise that the declaration requires keepers to:

  • Keep bird feed and water separate from wild birds;
  • Reduce movement of people, vehicles and equipment to areas where birds are kept;
  • Take steps to control vermin eg filling holes in walls;
  • For poultry farmers, cleanse and disinfect all housing and equipment at the end of a production cycle;
  • For poultry farmers, provide disinfectant at entry points.

Keepers should discuss biosecurity arrangements with their local vet or contact the nearest Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) office in Inverurie on telephone on 01467 626 610 or APHA.Scotland@apha.gsi.gov.uk 

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.