Scots egg producer suffers third bird flu outbreak

One of Scotland’s biggest egg producers has been hit by a third outbreak of avian flu.

A 1.8-mile (3km) protection zone has been put in place at the site at Easter Deans and Blairburn in West Linton in the Borders which is owned by Glenrath Farms

Biosecurity measures and movement restrictions have been in place across much of the area between Peebles and Penicuik since initial cases of avian influenza were confirmed just before Christmas.

The latest outbreak brings to five the number of farms affected in the area, with another outbreak also confirmed at premises near Blairgowrie in the past month.

Glenrath Farms is a family-owned business and was established in the Borders in 1959.

Its operations have grown over the years and it is now one of the UK’s leading egg production and marketing companies, producing more than a million eggs a day.

Scotland’s deputy chief veterinary officer Jesus Gallego Garnica told BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live earlier this month that the situation was concerning – but not unexpected.

He added that the impact on egg supplies was likely to be limited as the number of farms affected represented only a “small fraction” of the total volume of eggs sold in the UK.