Press Association
Saturday October 14, 2006 7:23 AM

Nearly 18,000 birds at the centre of a poultry virus outbreak on a farm are to be culled on Saturday.

Newcastle disease was confirmed on Friday in a flock of grey partridges at the holding near Edinburgh.

A 1.9-mile protection zone and a 6.2-mile surveillance zone have been established around the premises in Fenton Barns, Drem, East Lothian.

The fowl will be put in containers and gassed before being incinerated and taken off the farm in waterproof vehicles, in line with EU rules.

Officials attempting to pinpoint the source of the outbreak said the bug mainly affects poultry and has no significant public health implications.

They stressed there was no suspicion of bird flu, a potentially deadly strain of which was confirmed in Scotland earlier in the year.

Within the smaller zone, poultry is to be kept indoors and disinfection must be put in place at the entrances and exits to poultry premises, officials said.

In the wider zone, movements of poultry, captive birds, racing pigeons and hatching eggs are restricted and they may be moved only under licence.

Bird shows and other gatherings are banned. Restrictions will remain in place for 30 days, said the Scottish Executive.

Newcastle disease was confirmed after samples from the site were sent for analysis to an EU laboratory at Weybridge, Surrey.

Press Association