A single very sick animal displaying the classic symptoms of the virus was found near Lockerbie on Tuesday.

Following an initial examination at the South of Scotland Wildlife Hospital in Dumfries, the squirrel was humanely euthanased on veterinary advice. Tests carried out at the Moredun Institute in Edinburgh on Thursday confirmed the animal was suffering from squirrelpox virus.

Intensive control measures to resist the spread of the virus have been in place since its presence in Scotland was first detected in invasive populations of non native grey squirrel in May 2005. The virus is invariably fatal to Scotland's native red squirrels whilst the grey squirrel population spreading the virus remains unaffected by the disease it carries.

Professor Colin Galbraith, Director of Policy and Advice at Scottish Natural Heritage said: "SNH has been working with the Southern Upland Partnership to monitor the squirrelpox situation in grey squirrels in the South of Scotland for the past six months.

"We were aware that the virus been found in a red squirrel less than a mile south of the border and had feared that, at some point, the disease would transfer to the red squirrels in Scotland. Targeted grey squirrel control in the area has undoubtedly delayed the progression of the disease to Scottish red squirrels and we will continue our intensive grey squirrel control in the affected areas to allow further time to investigate the development of a vaccine."

Professor Galbraith continued: "Scottish Natural Heritage currently funds two Grey Squirrel Control Officers in the area in which this animal was found and we will intensify grey squirrel control in the affected area to reduce risks to a minimum as part of our Contingency Plan. We are also working towards monitoring and testing red squirrels for the presence of the virus in the vicinity of the infected animal to evaluate and minimise the risk of transmission between red squirrels."

Local Red Squirrel Conservation Officer Ann-Marie MacMaster added: "Once red squirrels develop lesions, they are extremely infectious and we desperately need the public in the South of Scotland to report ill red squirrels and grey squirrels.

"We would also ask people in the Lockerbie area especially not to encourage the two species of squirrel together through the use of feeders as this may facilitate the spread of the disease. We would also welcome the assistance of anyone locally who can help with the work of the project to protect red squirrels. Further information on the project and contacts can be obtained from www.red-squirrels.org.uk."

Gordon Patterson, Forestry Commission Scotland Biodiversity policy adviser, said: "We are very concerned about the spread of the virus into red squirrels in Scotland. Our staff are already involved in the monitoring work and we will now look out with extra vigilance for any signs of diseased red squirrels in the area and report them to the project team."

Statement issued by SWT in response to discovery of deadly virus

Responding to the news released today (11th May 2007) by Scottish Natural Heritage, that the first case of a squirrelpox virus in a red squirrel in Scotland has been confirmed, Stuart Brooks, Head of Conservation at the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) said:

“Over the last 80 years, red squirrel populations have declined at an alarming rate and news that the deadly squirrelpox virus has been found for the first time in a red squirrel in Scotland is potentially devastating for the future of our only native squirrel. Scotland is home to 75% of the UK’s red squirrel population and it was only a matter of time before this virus was discovered in a red squirrel. It is now time to step up activities to prevent this virus from penetrating red squirrel strongholds and the Scottish Wildlife Trust will do everything it can to help implement the Red Squirrel Action Plan recently produced by SNH and the Forestry Commission. We also urge the new Scottish government to take this issue seriously and invest the necessary resources to conserve what is one of our most iconic species.”