Northern Ireland’s chief vet Brian Dooher has reminded all bird keepers of the importance of maintaining high biosecurity standards due to the increasing threat of avian influenza (bird flu).
The warning comes as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain has been confirmed in a dead wild bird in Co. Galway.
This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in a wild bird on the island of Ireland since September 2023.
Bird flu
Dooher said that the recent detection of bird flu in a wild buzzard in Galway demonstrates that the virus is present in wild birds on the island.
“This finding highlights the importance of maintaining high standards of biosecurity to protect the poultry industry in Northern Ireland from the threat of avian influenza.
“I would reiterate my earlier warning that owners of poultry, game or pet birds should act now to ensure their biosecurity measures are sufficient to reduce the risk of disease to your flocks,” he said.
A biosecurity checklist for all bird keepers is available on the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) website.
Dooher said that all birdkeepers should familiarise themselves with this checklist and continually review the measures they take to protect themselves from an bird flu outbreak.
“Avian influenza has the potential to have a devastating effect on the poultry industry and would significantly impact international trade.
“I am calling on all flock keepers, including backyard or hobby flocks, to remain vigilant and to act today to reduce the risk to their flocks.
“The risk of a notifiable avian influenza incursion into a poultry flock in Northern Ireland reduces to very low where biosecurity standards are high,” he said.
Dooher outlined the following measures which flock keepers can implement to protect their birds against the threat of bird flu:
- Keeping the area where birds live clean and tidy, controlling rats and mice and regularly disinfecting any hard surfaces;
- Cleaning footwear before and after visits;
- Placing bird feed and water in fully enclosed areas that are protected from wild birds, and removing any spilled feed regularly;
- Putting fencing around outdoor areas where birds are allowed and limiting their access to ponds or areas visited by wild waterfowl;
- Where possible, avoid keeping ducks and geese with other poultry species.
If you find dead waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, these should be reported using the DAERA Dead Wild Bird Online Reporting Tool.
Bird flu is a notifiable disease. Anyone who suspects an animal may be affected by a notifiable disease must report it to their local Divisional Veterinary Office.
