A second bird flu outbreak has been confirmed at Scotland’s largest egg producer, deepening concern as the virus continues to spread across parts of the Borders.
Birds at Glenrath Farms’ Millennium Farm site near West Linton tested positive for avian influenza over the weekend. A cull of 200,000 birds has been ordered.
The latest case comes less than a month after the first infection was detected locally and is the fourth confirmed incident in the area since mid-December.
Tens of thousands of birds have already been culled following recent cases, with strict biosecurity measures and movement restrictions now in place across a wide area between Peebles and Penicuik.
Scotland’s chief veterinary officer said the latest detection involved the H5N1 strain, the dominant form of avian influenza seen in recent years.
A 3km protection zone and a wider 10km surveillance zone have been imposed around the affected premises.
Bird keepers within the zones are required to monitor flocks closely for signs of disease, keep records of birds and visitors, and report any concerns immediately.
The first case in the area was reported in the week before Christmas on land straddling the Borders and Midlothian boundary. Since then, three further cases have been confirmed locally, along with a separate detection near Blairgowrie in Perth and Kinross.
Scotland’s deputy chief veterinary officer Jesus Gallego Garnica said the increase in cases reflected a familiar seasonal trend rather than an unexpected surge.
He said: “Bird flu is seasonal, it is a winter disease, it follows the pattern we have seen for the last few years where around December and January we expect to see an increase in cases.”
He said producers could reduce risks by strengthening on-farm biosecurity, but warned there were limits to what could be controlled where infection was linked to contact with wild birds.
Glenrath Farms, a family-owned business founded in the Borders in 1959, is one of the UK’s leading egg producers, supplying more than a million eggs a day.
Industry figures suggest this still represents a small share of overall UK egg production, which is estimated at close to 12 billion eggs annually, with a further 2 billion imported.
The company has been approached for comment on how the latest case may affect its operations.
Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council, said the industry’s focus remained on animal welfare and supply stability. He said: “Any outbreak is deeply disappointing, and our sympathies lie with the producer at what is a very challenging time.”
He added: “Protecting animal health and welfare remains our highest priority, and the situation is being managed in line with established biosecurity and disease-control procedures.”
On supply, Allen said: “From a supply perspective, the national laying flock is larger and more stable than it has been for several years. As a result, we expect availability to remain as normal for consumers.”
Veterinary authorities said monitoring and testing would continue in the coming weeks as efforts remain focused on containing further spread.
