A report by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), published on Friday, has come to the conclusion that an outbreak of low pathogenic avian flu (LPAI) on a chicken farm in Fife was caused by contact with wild birds.

The outbreak was detected at a chicken farm on 11th January this year. A 1km protection zone was established around the farm, on the outskirts of Dunfermline, and 40,000 birds were culled to prevent further spread of the virus.

APHA concluded that, as the disease strain is linked to one that exists within “wild waterfowl populations” and there are bodies of water where waterbirds have been spotted near to the farm, the most likely cause of the outbreak was “indirect contact with wild birds.” There doesn’t appear to have been any risk to humans from the strain.

After the results of the official investigation were published on Friday, the Scottish government advised poultry keepers across Scotland to maintain good biosecurity and remain vigilant for signs of the disease which is in constant, low-level circulation in the wild bird population.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead commented, “Scotland is renowned for high standards of animal health and welfare. But we cannot be complacent – as demonstrated by the recent outbreak of very mild bird flu at a broiler-breeder unit near Dunfermline. It is thanks to the company and its private vet that the infection was caught at a very early stage which undoubtedly was a major factor in preventing its spread and ensuring it could be quickly stamped out.

“This isolated case highlights the importance of constant watchfulness and good biosecurity, and the need for individual keepers, industry and the authorities to continue to work together.”

Also commenting on the investigation’s conclusions, Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer Sheila Voas said, “I am writing to all registered poultry keepers in Scotland with advice about how to maintain good biosecurity on their farm. As demonstrated in the Dunfermline case, the speed of response is absolutely crucial in containing and controlling infection when it does occur. The Scottish Government’s new animal health and welfare strategy published [on Friday] will help ensure our livestock industry is as prepared as it can be for just such an eventuality and, even more importantly, is taking every available step to prevent an incursion in the first place.”

The outbreak in Scotland follows three incidents in England in 2015 and several more in mainland Europe, including in France where the latest information released last week by the French government shows officials have been alerted to 76 outbreaks of high pathogenicity bird flu in eight Departments in the south-west of the country since last year. On Tuesday (15th March), France’s agriculture department revealed that another case of high pathogenic flu had been detected on a duck-breeding farm in the Landes Department.

The APHA report stated of the Dunfermline outbreak, “The virus is clearly distinguishable from viruses associated with the ongoing epidemic in France, and distinguishable from the group of HPAI viruses that have caused a global panzootic in the last 10 years.”