Protection areas in place following bird flu outbreaks
BBCNew restrictions have been put in place following an outbreak of bird flu at a farm in the Scottish Borders.
Scotland's chief veterinary officer said the H5N1 subtype of avian influenza had been detected around Kingside Farm in Leadburn near West Linton on Wednesday.
A 3km (1.8 mile) protection zone and a 10 km (6.6 mile) surveillance zone- which extend into neighbouring Midlothian - have been put in place.
It means there are now three control zones in the local area after outbreaks of the disease were confirmed at nearby farms last week.
A fourth control zone has been in place near Lanark since November when avian flu was detected at a poultry farm.
Bird keepers have been advised to remain vigilant and follow biosecurity measures until further notice.
They have been urged to check their animals for any sign of infection and keep records of any which fall ill and die.
An initial protection zone was put in place after infected birds were found at Whim Poultry Farm in West Linton last Thursday, while a second outbreak was discovered at Halls Farm near Penicuik on Monday.
Other cases were recorded at Whitelees Poultry Farm, in Cleghorn, near Lanark in South Lanarkshire on 12 November.
Bird keepers have been warned not to release game birds at the current time to stop the spread of infection.
They have also been asked to keep records of people visiting their premises and will have to apply for a special licence to move mammals such as cows, goats and sheep which provide milk for human consumption.
Scottish GovernmentBird flu is caused by a virus which infects birds and sometimes other animals, including mammals.
The H5N1 strain, the dominant version of the disease, emerged in China in the 1990s.
Transmission between birds and humans is rare and no human-to-human transmission has ever been sustained.
