Northern Ireland’s chief veterinary officer Dr. Robert Huey has initiated disease control measures, including a bird cull zone, following suspicion of notifiable avian influenza at a commercial holding in Co. Antrim.
The decision was based on clinical signs and the initial results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), as well as the recent detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 in a number of wild birds across Northern Ireland.
Cull zone
In an effort to stop the spread of the virus and protect the poultry industry, temporary control zones have been introduced around the affected premises and birds on the site will be humanely culled.
Compensation, based on current market value, will be payable for all poultry culled at the department’s direction, where HPAI is detected.
Dr. Huey said: “The Department was contacted on New Year’s Eve by a Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP) reporting suspicion of notifiable avian disease at a holding in County Antrim. Since then we have taken samples and initial results from AFBI suggest that notifiable Avian Influenza is present.
“We are now awaiting official confirmation from the National Reference Laboratory to determine pathogenicity and strain of the disease.
Given the level of suspicion and the density of the poultry population around the holding, it is vital that as a matter of precaution, we act now and act fast.
“I have therefore taken the decision to cull the birds as well as introduce temporary control zones around the holding in an effort to protect our poultry industry and stop the spread of the virus. An epidemiological investigation is underway to determine the likely source of infection and determine the risk of disease spread.”
Spread so far
To date, there have been eight positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N8 confirmed in wild birds in Northern Ireland across five different locations.
There have also been recent detections in wild birds, poultry and captive birds across Britain, in addition to detections in the Republic of Ireland.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been in place across NI from December 1 to further enhance biosecurity measures and a mandatory housing order has been in place since December 23.
Dr. Huey continued: “The actions taken to-date in NI have helped to protect our commercial flocks from wild birds.
“This incursion of suspected notifiable AI, however, reminds us all of how critically important it is to be vigilant and take all necessary steps required to prevent the further spread of AI in Northern Ireland.
I urge all bird keepers to critically review their biosecurity measures and remind them that birds are now legally required to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds.
“To assist all bird keepers in complying with the new rules we have developed a biosecurity – self-assessment tool which is available on the DAERA website.”
Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease. As a result, anyone who suspects an animal may be affected by a notifiable disease must, by law, report it to their local DAERA Direct Office.
The advice from public health officials is that the risk to public health from these strains of Avian Influenza is very low. The Food Standards Agency advises that Avian Influenza poses a very low food safety risk.
