The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has confirmed that 64,000 birds at a commercial poultry premises in Northern Ireland are to be culled due to a suspected case of avian influenza (bird flu).
The department has put in place disease control measures at the site of the suspected case near Dungannon, Co. Tyrone
This will include the introduction of Temporary Control Zones (TCZs) in a bid to prevent any potential onward spread of the disease.
The department is now awaiting the results of samples which have been sent for laboratory testing.
Bird flu
Brian Dooher, chief veterinary officer (CVO) for Northern Ireland (NI), said that the measures were being taken based on number of factors, including the clinical signs and preliminary results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).
There have also been a number of confirmed cases of bird flu detected in wild birds across Northern Ireland.
In the event that bird flu is confirmed in the samples, it would be the first case in a commercial poultry flock this year.
“Samples from the infected premises have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory to confirm strain and pathogenicity.
“Should highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) be officially confirmed, these TCZs will be revoked and replaced with a three kilometre Protection Zone (PZ) and 10 kilometre Surveillance Zone (SZ),” Dooher said.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has applied across Northern Ireland since January 18.
This places a legal requirement on all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity measures.
A housing order for all kept birds and poultry will come into force tomorrow (Monday, February 17).
All bird keepers, including owners of pet birds, commercial flocks, backyard and hobby flocks, will be legally required to keep their birds indoors or otherwise separate from wild birds.
“The disease control measures have been taken to limit any potential spread of disease and I appeal to all bird owners – backyard and commercial – to take all necessary steps to protect your flock.
“This includes ensuring continuous excellent levels of biosecurity and adhering to all the requirements mandated under the AIPZ,” Dooher said.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, said that the suspected case of bird flu in Co. Tyrone was reported on Friday (February 14).
“Following further investigation, the CVO has taken the decision, as a precautionary measure, to apply appropriate disease control measures, including the humane culling of all poultry on site (64,000) and the introduction of Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) to mitigate for onward disease spread.
“This suspected incursion of HPAI, following the recently confirmed case at a captive bird premises near Magherafelt further shows we cannot afford to be complacent.
“It is crucial that all bird owners – from backyard hobbyists to commercial flock keepers with thousands of birds – adhere to all biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and report any suspect cases to the department as soon as possible,” he said.
Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease. Anyone who suspects an animal may be affected must, by law, report it to their local DAERA direct office.
Members of the public are encouraged to report dead wild birds via the DAERA dead wild bird online reporting tool or to the helpline on 0300 200 7840.
The Public Health Agency has confirmed bird flu is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low.
The Food Standards Agency has also advised that the disease poses a very low food safety risk for consumers, and that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
