BIRD flu has been confirmed along East Lothian’s coastline.
East Lothian Council confirmed that avian flu had been identified in Dunbar and West Barns.
Following the confirmation of avian flu at Dunbar Harbour, part of the walkway is temporarily closed and a boot wash is in place to help reduce its spread.
Now, advice has been issued in a bid to prevent the disease being spread further.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Avian flu continues to be a concern around Scotland and we are therefore advising people to take some precautions when out and about:
- Do not pick up or touch dead or sick wild birds;
- Keep pets/dogs away from any dead or sick birds;
- Do not feed wild waterfowl;
- Do not touch wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings;
- If you keep poultry or other birds, wash your hands and clean and disinfect your footwear before tending to your birds.”
Anyone who finds a living but ailing bird is urged to contact the SSPCA.
If anyone spots one or more dead birds of prey, gull, swan, goose or duck in the same place, or finds five or more dead wild birds of any other species in the same place, they should be reported at gov.uk
The spokesperson added: “East Lothian Council Countryside Rangers are regularly patrolling coastal sites and beaches, and will remove dead birds from the most popular coastline areas.
“They will not collect from private gardens.”
