Scottish wild bird highly pathogenic avian influenza response plan

Avian influenza GB wild bird surveillance

39. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds submitted via public reports and warden patrols (e.g., carried out by local authorities and at reserves), across Great Britain, on behalf of Scottish Government and the other GB administrations, to inform the disease risk for domestic poultry and captive birds.

40. The public are encouraged to report findings of dead wild birds using the online reporting system or by calling the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77). The online reporting tool launched on 13 December 2022 is available to use 24/7 (as is the Defra helpline), making submission of reports simpler and quicker whilst collecting data in real time.

41. Reports of dead wild birds to the GB helpline (or online portal), administered by Defra on behalf of all three GB administrations, are triaged by APHA^[7]. Wild bird carcasses meeting the criteria for testing are collected, where logistically feasible, by APHA's contractor, Farmcare UK. Not all birds are collected.

42. Carcasses that are identified for collection, are picked up by courier and delivered to the nearest Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) veterinary laboratory for identification, and sample collection, with swab samples taken and sent to the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) in Weybridge for testing. In all cases cloacal and oro-pharyngeal swabs are collected from a maximum of three birds per case per species (both for target and non-target species). Carcases are stored pending receipt of a negative HPAI PCR prior to postmortem.

43. Differential diagnosis investigations are also undertaken by SRUC where relevant. In some instances, nature reserve staff (who have been trained to take swab samples from dead birds in the field), in consultation with APHA, send samples directly to the APHA NRL as part of that dead wild bird surveillance. Wild birds and mammals may also be submitted by SRUC as part of wider Diseases of Wildlife surveillance under their contracts with Scottish Government.

44. Surveillance allows Government to understand the levels of risk to poultry, other captive birds and public health and what relevant mitigation measures may be adopted commensurate to the level of risk. It was not designed to help understand how the disease impacted wild bird populations from a conservation perspective.

45. APHA keeps the thresholds for reporting and triage criteria for testing under review with any suggested changes to the criteria for which birds are collected (species, number, locations) agreed by the ADPG and then published online^[8]. Thresholds often change throughout the year, depending on the risk of incursion to increase or decrease sensitivity of the surveillance as required. Reports to the helpline are triaged against these criteria.

46. For the most up to date reporting threshold please visit www.gov.scot/birdflu. APHA publish a report (updated weekly) on findings of HPAI in wild birds in Great Britain Bird flu (avian influenza): cases in wild birds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Avian influenza in non-avian wildlife

47. While HPAI is predominantly considered a pathogen of birds, the virus has been shown in some instances to infect mammals.

48. Where appropriate, and in accordance with a set criteria, a number of wild mammals are tested for influenza of avian origin by the APHA avian influenza National Reference Laboratory.

49. Causes of death of wild seals and cetaceans are also monitored and investigated in Scotland by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), who report suspicion of influenza of avian origin to APHA where relevant . For any species of dead animal, the advice to the public is not to touch or pick it up. Carcasses may present health risks and are best left alone. If the animal found dead is a fox, otter, stoat, weasel, pine marten, pole cat (but not badger) and HPAI is suspected, the location of the dead animal should be noted and the local APHA area office contacted for advice. For dead seals or cetaceans these should be reported to SMASS. Reports should be sent to reports@strandings.org. Further information on reporting is available at www.strandings.org/report. (see section on Advice for Wildlife Rescue/Rehabilitation Centres).

50. Separate advice is available on www.Gov.Scot/birdflu for those encountering sick wild birds or dead wild birds suspected as having been a victim of wildlife crime.