Bid flu Scotland: 330 dead seabirds found on Aberdeenshire beach after avian flu outbreak detected on nearby farm

It comes after cases of the virus were detected on a farm in Banff.

More than 300 dead seabirds have been recovered from a beach in Aberdeenshire after cases of bird flu were confirmed at a farm in Scotland’s north east.

Aberdeenshire Council said it picked up 330 birds from Stonehaven beach on Monday.

Cases of avian influenza were detected at Inchdrewer Farm, near Banff, on Sunday.

It comes just a week after the Scottish Government lifted the bird flu prevention zone order that was introduced in Scotland late last year.

A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been placed around the infected farm.

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It means there are movement restrictions on poultry, carcasses, eggs and manure to prevent spread of the disease.

A guillemot sea bird landing at a colony on the rocks in the North Sea. Picture: Getty Images

The Scottish SPCA (SSPCA) said it has recently had to put a number of birds found on Stonehaven beach to sleep over fears of the virus spreading.

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Animal rescue officer Debbie Gibson said: “We attended Stonehaven beach on Thursday evening following a call to our animal helpline. Sadly, a guillemot and three kittiwakes had to be put to sleep due to suspected avian flu.

“We attended the beach again on Sunday after a call to our helpline and one kittiwake needed to be euthanised for the same reason.”

Bird flu cases have been confirmed at a farm near Banff, Aberdeenshire, as more dead seabirds have been found washed up on nearby beaches (pic: John Devlin)

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The SSPCA said if people come across wild dead or sick birds, they must not handle the bodies and report them to DEFRA’s helpline on 03459 335 577.

Aberdeenshire Council said it had plans to remove dead seabirds that were being found washed up on the beaches in the local authority area.

The Scottish Government said although the risk of bird flu to poultry and other captive birds had reduced in Scotland, low risk did not mean no risk. Keepers are being encouraged to continue implementing strong biosecurity measures as infection is still present in the environment and amongst wild birds in the UK.

Officials said the risk the virus posed to the general public’s health was very low.