Avian Flu

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 22 February 2023.

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Photo of Alexander Burnett Alexander Burnett Conservative

6. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on avian flu in Scotland. (S6O-01905)

Photo of Mairi Gougeon Mairi Gougeon Scottish National Party

In Scotland, since the start of October last year, there have been 21 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry and captive birds and 107 findings in wild birds.

We continue to monitor the number of cases in poultry and wild birds. The latest evidence suggests that we are beginning to see a decrease in the rate of cases across Great Britain. In response to the decrease, we have adjusted the reporting thresholds for surveillance of wild birds to support the on-going monitoring of the level of the disease that is circulating in wild species.

Photo of Alexander Burnett Alexander Burnett Conservative

We now know that avian flu can be transferred to seals, after four Scottish seal carcases tested positive for the virus earlier this month. One of those seals was found dead in Aberdeenshire in 2021. Will the cabinet secretary confirm when she first learned about the transfer of avian flu to seals and outline what action she has taken to mitigate the impact of that?

Photo of Mairi Gougeon Mairi Gougeon Scottish National Party

The first point that I want to make is that the risk to human health from the virus is low. Food Standards Scotland advises that avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk to people who consume poultry products, including eggs.

In relation to what the member said about cases in other mammals, in samples that were taken last year as part of routine wildlife surveillance, the presence of avian influenza was detected in four otters and four seals from Scotland, as well as in five red foxes from England and Wales. Those animals were found in areas with a high incidence of H5N1 in wild bird populations, and scavenging on wild birds is thought to have been the source of infection. However, the detection of the virus does not mean that the virus caused the deaths of the animals.

We know that wild birds and animals can carry several diseases that can be transmitted to people, so people should not touch or pick up dead or visibly sick birds. I know that the issue is of concern, but the risk that we are associating with it is still considered to be extremely low, so I offer assurances on that front.

Our chief veterinary officer and our animal health teams are working flat out on the issue. They are continuing their surveillance to see what action, if any, can be taken to try to stop the spread of the virus.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

I ask for very brief supplementary questions.

Photo of Ariane Burgess Ariane Burgess Green

When will the response plan for wild birds be published? Will it contain tangible measures for protecting and conserving wild birds, and on carcase collection, during the HPAI outbreak?

Photo of Mairi Gougeon Mairi Gougeon Scottish National Party

The response plan is still under development, but I am happy to follow up with Ariane Burgess and provide, I hope, a more indicative timescale.

Photo of Evelyn Tweed Evelyn Tweed Scottish National Party

In the light of avian flu being discovered in Stirling last week, will the cabinet secretary briefly outline the biosecurity steps that people can take to reduce the spread of the disease?

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

I doubt that you will be able to outline them briefly, cabinet secretary, but please do so as briefly as possible.

Photo of Mairi Gougeon Mairi Gougeon Scottish National Party

It is really important to highlight and remember that biosecurity measures are critical and offer the best protection against the spread of the disease. Such measures include cleaning and disinfecting clothes, footwear and equipment; reducing the movement of people and vehicles; and preventing contact with wild birds. Those are just some of the measures that people can take. It is really important that people take biosecurity seriously.