Contingency Planning
- Why have we published the Avian Influenza contingency plan?
- What is the plan about?
- Does its publication indicate a heightened level of risk?
- What will we do if we find Avian Influenza in wild birds?
- Why don't you vaccinate poultry?
- Why is there no requirement to bring poultry indoors?
- Should birds be required to be brought indoors, what further action will be needed?
- Can birds in zoos be vaccinated?
Will compensation be paid?
1. Why have we published the Avian Influenza plan?
The plan's development recognises the importance of preparedness for responding to any animal disease outbreak and the need for all players - government, industry and operational partners such as the police - to understand their roles. It builds on the existing foot and mouth disease plan (which has also been republished after review).
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2. What is the plan about?
The plan sets out the actions which would take place if avian influenza or Newcastle Disease were confirmed in Scotland. It sets out the structures the Scottish Executive would put in place to manage the outbreak and the main disease control assumptions that would apply. The plan is about managing the situation in Scotland and will support the local contingency plans already held by the State Veterinary Service. The Plan operates within the structure provided by the existing EU-approved GB Contingency Plan and has been produced within the context of the international obligations associated with disease control.
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3. Does its publication indicate a heightened level of risk?
No - it is part of our general work on making sure that Scotland is able to respond quickly to the occurrence of any fast-spreading animal disease.
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4. What will we do if we find Avian Influenza in wild birds?
The plan is focused on the response to finding avian disease in the domestic poultry industry or backyard flocks. We would not plan to cull wild birds if avian influenza were detected in one as this would not be practical or proportionate. However, we would work with industry to further heighten biosecurity amongst domestic poultry and increase even further our surveillance. However, it is important to note that not all types of avian influenza are of concern.
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5. Why don't you vaccinate poultry?
The vaccines that are currently available to protect against avian influenza disease are inactivated types and need to be delivered by injecting birds individually. It can take up to three weeks for birds to develop protective immunity and some poultry require two doses. The difficulties in delivering such a vaccine to a large number of birds are huge and render this approach impractical on a large scale. So far, only one vaccine has a provisional marketing authorisation in GB. Marketing authorisation signals that a vaccine has passed basic tests for safety and efficacy, and is safe to use in the food chain.
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6. Why is there currently no requirement to bring poultry indoors?
The housing of birds is not currently a proportionate response to the level of risk. We are keeping such a move under review and any decision will take into account the potential welfare impact on the birds concerned.
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7. Should birds be required to be brought indoors, what further action will be needed?
If Avian Influenza is confirmed in Scotland poultry will require to be housed indoors as an additional precautionary step. The Avian Influenza biosecurity guidance provides information on the type of issues which can be considered in advance of such a request being made. This can be found by clicking here.
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8. Can birds in zoos be vaccinated?
Yes, and we have introduced legislation to allow this in Scotland if Scottish Ministers believe it is appropriate to do so. As zoo birds do not enter the food chain, the marketing authorisation is not needed. The small number of zoo and bird park birds means that it is logistically possible.
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9. Will compensation be paid?
Compensation will be paid for birds compulsorily culled as part of the disease control response.
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