Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 1/13/16


Officials in Scotland have begun the process of culling an estimated 40,000 chickens at a farm where the H5N1 strain of avian influenza was confirmed earlier this week, according to local media reports.

The outbreak was discovered at Craigies Poultry Farm and authorities established a 1-kilometer protection zone to prevent the potential spread of the virus. The move is designed to increase biosecurity in the area by curtailing movement of poultry, bird carcasses, eggs and manure. Scotland veterinary officer Sheila Voss told The Independent that the strain was “very mild” and called the risk to humans “very low.”

The culling operation is expected to be conducted over two days using gas to humanely euthanize the birds, the report added. It’s the third reported case of an avian influenza in the United Kingdom since the beginning of 2015.

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