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Publication - Factsheet

Avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks

Last updated
15 January 2026 - see all updates
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic
Farming and rural

Latest situation including current outbreaks and measures in place to prevent the spread of the disease.

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ)

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) is in place across Scotland. Keepers should make themselves familiar with the latest AIPZ measures.

This zone means strict biosecurity measures for all bird keepers - including those who keep pet birds - to help prevent the spread from wild birds or any other source. Read more: what keepers and backyard owners should do.

The AIPZ in Scotland does not include a requirement to house birds. However, this is kept under review and it is important to keep checking this information for updates.

The follows a risk assessment of the latest scientific evidence and veterinary advice. Broadly similar measures are in place in the rest of the UK. There can be differences between nations, especially relating to housing rules, gatherings, and the recording and reporting of information.

Cases and disease control zones

You can check where disease control zones are located and if you are in a zone on the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) interactive map.

Restrictions apply to your whole premises if any of your premises falls within a zone. 

Vigilance by bird keepers is important and any suspicion of avian influenza in kept birds in Scotland must be reported immediately to the local APHA Field Services office.

Current outbreaks:

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed:

Other parts of Great Britain

Find out the latest HPAI situation in other parts of Great Britain at avian influenza – England and avian influenza - Wales.

Previous outbreaks: a list of previous outbreaks in Scotland is available.

How to subscribe to receive disease alerts 

For the latest information on animal diseases you can sign up for free text and/or email alerts on national disease outbreaks via APHA’s subscription service.

If you have already subscribed to this service and no longer wish to receive disease alerts, complete the information on the subscriptions page. You will then have the option to update your subscription. 

Current risk levels

The risk of incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 infection in wild birds is very high.

The risk of poultry and captive bird exposure to HPAI H5 across Great Britain is at high where biosecurity is sub-optimal, and medium where stringent biosecurity measures are applied.

Further details on the evidence which supported these decisions can be found in our risk assessment.

Influenza vaccinations available

NHS Scotland is offering a free flu vaccination to those at risk of exposure to avian (bird) flu. The vaccine doesn't protect against avian (bird) flu, but it can lower the risk of a new flu virus forming if you’re exposed to both human flu and bird flu at the same time.

You’re eligible for a free vaccine if you:

  • work at, or regularly visit, poultry units and poultry processing units (including inspection staff)
  • cull and/or clean at confirmed bird flu outbreak premises
  • are likely to be handling live unwell birds where bird flu is suspected
  • are involved in the collection of wild or domestic bird carcasses where bird flu is suspected, including sea birds

To book an appointment visit Flu vaccine | NHS inform or call 0800 030 8013. You’ll be able to book an appointment on a day, time and at a location convenient for you. All you need to do is identify yourself as a “poultry worker” on the booking portal, or to the call handler. On the booking portal you should select: Winter 2025 - Flu vaccine - aged 18 years and over.

To access the online booking portal, you’ll need your username and password. If you’ve forgotten your details, they can be recovered online. Watch this video to find out how.

Read more about the flu vaccine in the informed consent leaflet.

For employers:

Public Health Scotland has produced a range of resources that can be used by employers to help promote vaccination to your workforce including posters. 

Please help us this winter and encourage your staff to get vaccinated. As well as reducing the risk of a new flu virus forming when a person is exposed to flu and bird flu at the same time, the vaccine protects against seasonal flu, which will help keep your workforce healthy and reduce staff illness.

Bird keepers - what you should do

Good biosecurity

Good biosecurity improves the overall health and productivity of your flock by helping keep out poultry diseases and limiting the spread of disease during an outbreak.

If you keep poultry (including game birds or as pets), you should:

Keepers with over 500 birds

Keepers with more than 500 birds need to:

  • restrict access for non-essential personnel on their sites
  • ensure workers change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures
  • clean and disinfect site vehicles regularly to limit the risk of disease spreading

Small flocks

Backyard owners with smaller numbers of poultry, including chickens, ducks and geese must also take steps to limit the risk of the disease spreading to their animals. This also applies if you only have a few birds as pets.

An outbreak of avian influenza in backyard poultry results in the same restrictions on the movement of birds. It has the same impact on farmers and trade in poultry as an outbreak on a commercial farm would have. 

Read the small flock keepers guide to biosecurity for more information.

Dead bird and other wild mammal findings

Wild birds

Avian Influenza surveillance systems are in place for the reporting and monitoring of dead wild birds and certain species suspected of having been infected with avian influenza. Read more: How to report dead wild birds. The wild bird surveillance reports are available here: Wild Bird Reports

Other wild mammal findings

If you find a dead wild mammal, suspected of having been infected with avian influenza, note where you saw the dead animal and contact your local APHA Field Services office. There are specific species we are concerned about: non-domestic mammals of the order carnivora (including canids (foxes), felids (Scottish wildcats), mustelids (otters, pine martens, mink, polecats, stoats, weasels, badgers), pinnipeds (seals), and cetaceans (porpoises and dolphins) that are free living (living in the wild). 

As with dead wild birds, if you find a dead animal of any species, please don’t pick it up. Carcasses may present health risks and are best left alone.

Posters for land managers and local authorities

Gov.uk has published posters for land managers and local authorities to warn the public that either bird flu has been detected in the area or to not risk spreading the virus.

We have produced a poster on the legal requirement for bird registration.

Bird gatherings

Bird gatherings are not permitted for the gathering of poultry in Scotland.

Organisers should ensure their gathering complies with the conditions of the bird gathering general licence.

Bird gathering licence conditions may be different in other part of GB:

Organisers must notify the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at least 7 days prior to their gathering event. Late notification will constitute a failure to comply with the conditions of the general licence. To notify, please either:

  • email APHAScotlandShows@apha.gov.uk, or
  • phone 03000 600 709 (APHA Field Service Inverness)
  • or contact APHA at: APHA Field Services, Longman House, 28 Longman Road, Inverness IV1 1SF

Contact

Email: Animal.Health@gov.scot 

Related information

First published
22 February 2023
Last updated
15 January 2026 - show all updates

  1. (HPAI) H5N1 confirmed near Penicuik, Scottish Borders.

  2. Updated to reflect all restrictions lifted near Lanark, South Lanarkshire (AIV 2025/96) .

  3. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed near Penicuik, Scottish Borders.

  4. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed near Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross.

  5. Updated to reflect change in current risk levels for poultry and captive birds.

  6. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed near Penicuik, Scottish Borders.

  7. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed near Penicuik, Midlothian.

  8. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed near Penicuik, Scottish Borders.

  9. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed near Lanark, South Lanarkshire.

  10. Added text about influenza (flu) vaccinations.

  11. Updated text under Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) to reflect declaration amendment coming into effect at 12 pm noon on Friday 26 September 2025.

  12. Current outbreaks updated to add near Banff, Aberdeenshire

  13. Reviewed and updated as no current outbreaks.

  14. Current outbreaks updated to add Daviot, near Inverness.

  15. Updated text to link to bird registration poster in posters section.

  16. Current outbreaks section updated to reflect that there are no current oubreaks.

  17. Bird gatherings relating to poultry are no longer allowed.

  18. Updated to reflect end of Protection Zone for the outbreak confirmed near Kirriemuir, Angus (AIV 2025/01) on 10 January 2025.

  19. Updated text and link in other wild mammal findings section.

  20. AIPZ all Scotland - added details and linked to the AIPZ information.

  21. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at premises in Kirriemuir, Angus.

  22. changes to bird gatherings section

  23. Updated to reflect lifting of restrictions on some bird gatherings (poultry and kept galliformes) which came into effect at noon.

  24. Restrictions lifted near Finstown, Orkney Islands (AIV 2023/56).

  25. Restrictions lifted near Strichen (AIV 2023/54).

  26. Restrictions at premises near Finstown, Orkney Islands.

  27. End of Protection Zone, Surveillance Zone still in place near Strichen, Aberdeenshire (AIV 2023/54).

  28. Restrictions lifted at Sheshader, Isle of Lewis.

  29. Restrictions at premises near Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

  30. Restrictions lifted at 3 premises on Isle of Lewis.

  31. Declaration of end of Protection Zone near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire and near Tingwall, Shetland Islands.

  32. Declaration of end of Protection Zone at first and second premises in Lower Barvas, Isle of Lewis.

  33. End of Protection Zone near Tingwall.

  34. End of Protection Zone near Peterhead.

  35. Updated to reflect lifting of restrictions in Lochcarron, Highland.

  36. Updated to reflect end of Protection Zone for Ness, Isle of Lewis.

  37. Made layout improvements to the page to focus on current outbreaks.

  38. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at premises in Sheshader, Isle of Lewis.

  39. Updated to reflect lifting of restrictions near Forfar.

  40. Updated to reflect lifting of restriction near Kirkcudbright.

  41. Updated to reflect end of Protection Zone for first premises, near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway.

  42. Updated to reflect lifting of two surveillance zones near Fraserburgh.

  43. Updated to reflect end of protection zones at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

  44. Updated to reflect end of protection zones at second and third premises near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.

  45. Near Portsoy, end of Surveillance Zone added.

  46. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at premises near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

  47. Added information re the end to the Portsoy, Aberdeenshire Protection Zone declared on 7 September 2023.

  48. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at premises in Ness, Isle of Lewis.

  49. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at premises in Lower Barvas, Isle of Lewis.

  50. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at premises near Forfar, Angus.

  51. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at second premises near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway.

  52. Added information about a temporary control zone at premises near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway.

  53. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at two premises near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire and one near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway.

  54. Updated to reflect restrictions lifted at third premises near Banff, Aberdeenshire.

  55. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at a premise in Lochcarron, Highland

  56. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at a premises near Stornoway, Isle of Lewis and near Portsoy, Aberdeenshire.

  57. Updated to reflect the change to a Surveillance Zone near Banff, Aberdeenshire.

  58. Updated to reflect end of Protection Zone near Banff, Aberdeenshire.

  59. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at a premises in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

  60. Added information about a confirmation of avian influenza at a premises near Banff, Aberdeenshire.

  61. Avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) across Scotland lifted.

  62. Added information about confirmation in a premises near Forres, Moray.

  63. Restrictions lifted near Dumfries. Page updated to reflect that there are no confirmed outbreaks in Scotland.

  64. Restrictions lifted in Clackmannan.

  65. Restrictions lifted near Grantown on Spey, Highland.

  66. Restrictions lifted near Tain, Highland.

  67. Restrictions lifted near Stirling.

  68. Restrictions lifted near Fraserburgh.

  69. Restrictions lifted near Crossgates, Fife.

  70. Page updated to reflect the Restricted Zone nr Dumfries and include reference to Low pathogenic avian influenza (LAPI) H7N3 being confirmed in Scotland.d.

  71. Lifted restrictions near Stranraer, Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway.

  72. Lifted restrictions near Ladybank, Fife.

  73. Altered the layout so that the focus is on current outbreaks. Added a previous outbreaks section to highlight there are no restrictions in these areas.

  74. Lifted restrictions in Forfar.

  75. Lifted restrictions in Crieff.

  76. Removed surveillance zones for three cases near Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

  77. Removed surveillance zones for near Banff, Aberdeenshire.

  78. Lifted restrictions in Fraserburgh (end of Protection Zone) and Forres (end of Surveillance Zone).

  79. Lifted Protection Zone for Forres and both Banff cases.

  80. Added section for near Stirling, Stirling Local Authority Area.

  81. End of Protection Zone near Crieff, Perth and Kinross.

  82. End of Protection Zone near Forfar, Angus.

  83. End of Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone, near Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

  84. Added Protection and Surveillance Zone near Crossgates, Fife.

  85. Added Surveillance Zone near Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway.

  86. Added Surveillance Zone in Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire.

  87. Added Surveillance Zone near Grantown on Spey, Highland.

  88. Added Surveillance Zone, near Tain, Highland.

  89. Updates to second and third premises near Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

  90. Updates to Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ).

  91. Added section for near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.

  92. Added outbreak near Forfar, Angus.

  93. Added section for near Ladybank, Fife.

  94. End of Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire.

  95. Information about dead wild mammal findings added to page.

  96. Confirmed case near Crieff, Perth and Kinross.

  97. Confirmed case in Forres, Moray.

  98. Bird gatherings general licence updated.

  99. Added information about confirmation in a second premises near Banff, Aberdeenshire.

  100. First premises near Turriff - end of protection zone. Near Kirkwall, Orkney Islands - all zones lifted.

  101. Updated Near Huntly, Aberdeenshire outbreak to reflect lifting of protection zone.

  102. Added information about confirmation in a third premises near Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

  103. Updated Kirkwall, Orkney Islands outbreak to reflect lifting of protection zone.

  104. Added section for second case near Turriff, Aberdeenshire..

  105. Updated Tankerness, Orkney Islands outbreak to reflect all zonal restrictions have been lifted.

  106. Added section for near Banff, Aberdeenshire

  107. Updated Tankerness, Orkney Islands outbreak to reflect lifting of protection zone.

  108. Updated information on Great Bernera, Uig, Isle of Lewis - Surveillance Zone lifted

  109. Added information about confirmation in a premises near Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

  110. Added information about confirmation in a premises near Cumnock, East Ayrshire.

  111. Updated Great Bernera, Isle of Lewis outbreak to reflect end of protection zone.

  112. Added section for near Kirkwall, Orkney Islands. Tidied up the page to remove last season information.

  113. Added section for near Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

  114. Latest situation and recent dead wild bird findings updated.

  115. Added section for Near Tankerness, Orkney Islands.

  116. Added text for Near Great Bernera, Uig, Isle of Lewis and minor text edits.

  117. 2022 to 2023 season commenced 1 October. Recent dead wild bird findings updated.

  118. Added Posters for land managers and local authorities section. Updated text.

  119. Updated to reflect lifting of AIPZ: whole of GB.

  120. Updated text for Birsay.

  121. Updated text for Birsay.

  122. Minor updates to text.

  123. Minor updates to text.

  124. Updated.

  125. Updated section for The Island of Whalsay, Shetland Islands.

  126. Updated to reflect latest position.

  127. Minor text amendments.

  128. Updated section for recent dead wild bird findings.

  129. Updated section for The Island of Whalsay, Shetland Islands.

  130. Added information about declaration of temporary control zones at The Island of Whalsay, Shetland Islands.

  131. Updated to reflect latest position.

  132. Amended to reflect housing measures lifted.

  133. Updated section for near Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

  134. Updated page to reflect current situation.

  135. Updated near Beith, North Ayrshire.

  136. Updated near Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

  137. Updated Near Collieston, Aberdeenshire - end of Surveillance Zone.

  138. Accordion updated.

  139. Added warning text.

  140. Updated Near Collieston, Aberdeenshire - end of protection zone.

  141. Minor update to Beith outbreak information.

  142. Update to Strichen outbreak information to add links to interactive map and local Field Services Office.

  143. Location of latest outbreak changed from Beith to Strichen.

  144. Location of latest outbreak changed from Collieston to Beith.

  145. Location of latest outbreak changed from Ellon to Collieston.

  146. Added in link to news release for 11 March outbreak.

  147. Added section for Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

  148. Updated list of Recent dead wild bird findings.

  149. Updated list of Recent dead wild bird findings.

  150. Updated list of Recent dead wild bird findings.

  151. Updated list of Recent dead wild bird findings.

  152. Added link to rapid risk assessment for premises near Inverurie.

  153. Changes following confirmed case in premises near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

  154. Updated to reflect lifting of all Protection and Surveillance Zones.

  155. Updated section on Annan.

  156. Updated section on Moffat.

  157. Updated sections on Gretna.

  158. Updated section on Annan.

  159. Removed PZ references to Moffat case and added link to updated Declaration.

  160. Added map showing all HPAI cases.

  161. Changes following confirmed case near Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway.

  162. Changes following confirmed case near Annan, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway.

  163. Added info about recent reports of cases.

  164. Link to postcode tool added re reporting non-compliance.

  165. Updates reflect ending of surveillance zone in Angus.

  166. Changes following confirmed case near Gretna, Dumfriesshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  167. Updated to reflect housing requirement.

  168. Updated to reflect surveillance zone in Angus.

  169. Updated to account for housing measures to be introduced across the UK

  170. Updated to add housing measures introduced into areas of England.

  171. Revised layout to make the page clearer.

  172. Updated to add information about case found in Frinton-on-Sea, Tendring, Essex

  173. Updated to add information about case found in Warwickshire.

  174. Updated to reflect latest position.

  175. Updated with information about bird gathering licence.

  176. Updated to reflect latest position.

  177. First published.

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