A major Scottish poultry producer has been forced to implement stringent biosecurity measures following a confirmed outbreak of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, at one of its facilities.
The incident at Glenrath Farms’ Whim Poultry Farm, located outside West Linton in the Scottish Borders, on 22 December 2025, has triggered the immediate establishment of a two-mile (3km) protection zone and a wider six-mile (10km) surveillance zone by Scottish veterinary authorities to contain the highly contagious viral infection.
Glenrath Farms, a prominent family-owned business established in 1959, is one of the UK’s leading egg production and marketing companies, producing over a million eggs daily. The company, which reported substantial pre-tax profits of £21.36 million in the year ending May 2024, has demonstrated strategic resilience in expanding production when others faced declines. However, avian influenza remains a significant and unpredictable challenge for the poultry sector, with volatile production costs and disease threats placing considerable pressure on producers.
The outbreak at Glenrath Farms is not an isolated event. Government figures for the 2025-2026 outbreak season indicate 73 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 across the UK, with two in Scotland. An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) is currently in force across Great Britain, mandating strict biosecurity for all bird keepers, including those with backyard flocks.
Concurrently, suspected avian flu cases have emerged among wild bird populations in the Highlands. RSPB Scotland reported on 22 December 2025, that greylag and pink-footed geese at its Insh Marshes reserve near Kingussie are believed to be affected, with the first suspected case noted on 8 December. This follows a period where the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) raised the avian flu risk level for wild birds across Great Britain to “very high” due to increased cases in October and November.
Karen Birkby, Senior Site Manager at RSPB Insh Marshes, stressed the pervasive nature of the threat.
“Bird flu is not limited to one reserve or one area, and this good practice applies in any place you visit this winter where wild birds gather,” she stated. RSPB Scotland has urged the public to avoid contact with dead or unwell birds, thoroughly clean footwear, and keep dogs on leads to minimise spread. Suspected cases can be reported to Defra on 03459 335577.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, which has been circulating among wild birds globally, has previously caused devastating losses. The 2021-22 outbreak, described as the largest ever in the UK, saw over 13,000 barnacle geese perish across Scotland, representing about a third of the Svalbard breeding population. While populations have since rebounded, the continued presence of the virus raises concerns for wildlife conservation efforts.
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Despite the ongoing prevalence in bird populations and occasional spillover into other animals such as foxes, seals, and otters, the risk to human health from the H5N1 strain remains low. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) consistently monitors the situation, noting that transmission from birds to humans is rare and there has been no sustained human-to-human transmission. Most human infections have been linked to close and prolonged contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.
The latest outbreaks underscore the critical need for vigilance and robust biosecurity measures across the UK’s poultry industry and among the public to mitigate the impact of avian influenza on both commercial enterprises and vulnerable wild bird populations.
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