Disease control measures have been initiated by the Department of
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) following a
suspect case of notifiable highly pathogenic avian influenza
(HPAI) at a commercial poultry premises near Pomeroy.
The Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland, Brian Dooher
has taken the decision based on number of factors including the
clinical signs and preliminary results provided by the Agri-Food
and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, confirmed: “A suspect
case of notifiable Avian Influenza was reported on Saturday 01
November and initial results suggest the presence of HPAI.
The CVO has, therefore, taken the decision, as a
precautionary measure, to apply appropriate disease control
measures, including the humane culling of all poultry on the site
and the introduction of Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) to mitigate
for onward disease spread.
“I call on all bird owners – from backyard hobbyists to
commercial flock keepers with thousands of birds – to adhere to
all biosecurity measures to protect their flocks.”
CVO, Brian Dooher added: “The disease control measures are
crucial to limit any potential spread of disease and I must
stress the utmost importance of ensuring continuous excellent
levels of biosecurity and reporting any suspect cases of avian
flu to DAERA immediately.”
Full details of the scope and measures required within the TCZs
have been published on the DAERA website: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/disease-control-zone-declarations
Members of the public are encouraged to report dead waterfowl
(swans, geese or ducks) or gulls, or five or more dead wild birds
of other species in the same location, via the DAERA Dead Wild
Bird Online Reporting Tool: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/daera-dead-wild-bird-online-reporting-tool.
Notes to editors:
- Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease. Anyone who suspects
an animal may be affected by a notifiable disease must, by law,
report it to their local DAERA Direct Office.
- The Public Health Agency has confirmed Avian Influenza 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 Avian Influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK
consumers, and that properly cooked poultry and poultry products,
including eggs, are safe to eat.
