A further 16 suspected cases of avian influenza have been reported in Northern Ireland since January 4, as the Minister of Agriculture warns high biosecurity remains essential to protecting the national flock.
Through testing at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, all 16 suspected cases were found not to cases of the highly pathogenic variant H5N8.
However, it shows the real possibility that further cases could still be found. Restrictions were put in place around each of the farms while testing took place.
“The risk of a notifiable avian influenza incursion into poultry flocks in Northern Ireland is still at the highest it has ever been,” Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons told MLAs during Minister’s Questions this afternoon (February 2).
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone will remain in place until this risk reduces. Veterinary officials will keep these conditions in regular review in collaboration with industry stakeholders.
“The need for excellent biosecurity to prevent further incursions will continue to be highlighted by my department as a crucial way to protect the national flock.”
Since October 2020, there have been eight confirmed cases in wild birds across six different locations and two outbreaks confirmed in commercial flocks in Northern Ireland.
The Surveillance Zone surrounding the affected farm in Clough, Co. Antrim, was lifted on Wednesday, February 10, with the second Surveillance Zone in Lisburn to be lifted a day later on February 11.
However, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) introduced across Northern Ireland on December 1, is still in place. This includes the mandatory housing order, introduced on December 23.
“These notifiable avian influenza outbreaks were the first in Northern Ireland since 1998 and were the first-ever involving the highly pathogenic strain of the virus,” Minister Lyons told members.
