Scotland says 40,000-bird flock hit by avian influenza.

Scotland is euthanizing 40,000 chickens because the flock has been hit by an outbreak of avian influenza strain H5N1.

That strain prompted heavy culling in the lower Fraser Valley about a year ago and in June at three poultry farms in Oxford County, Ontario.

Scotland veterinary officer Sheila Voss said the strain is “very mild” and called the risk to humans “very low.”

Officials set up a quarantine zone of only one kilometre. By comparison, Ontario’s quarantine zones were 10 kilometres and the marketing boards asked members to stop allowing non-essential visits to their premises.