Inverness avian flu surveillance zone remains in place with movement restrictions
A surveillance zone for avian flu is still in place around Inverness after a case of the disease was confirmed in Daviot in March.
On March 18, the Scottish Government announced the detection of a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at Tigh na Drochaid.
Although the 3km protection zone was declared to be over on Monday (April 14), a 10km surveillance zone is still in place, with signs marking the entrance to the zone around the Highland capital.
The area within the surveillance zone remains impacted by movement restrictions for animals and related byproducts — poultry, carcasses, eggs, used poultry litter and manure — to prevent any further spread of disease.
The measures imposed in the surveillance area are a legal requirement set out in a declaration — which can be read in full on the Scottish Government’s website.
Within the Surveillance Zone, key requirements include strict record-keeping for visitors, bird movements, health status, and egg production, along with licensing for movements of poultry, other birds, and mammals onto or off premises and within or out of the zone, except for retail egg distribution.
Rigorous biosecurity measures and cleansing/disinfection of vehicles are mandatory, and there are restrictions on litter disposal, gatherings of birds, and the release of game birds.
This follows an increase in the number of detections of avian influenza (also knows as bird flu) in wild birds and other captive birds.
Since January 25, it has been a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Scotland and England to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu.
