Disease control measures have been initiated by DAERA following a
suspect case of notifiable highly pathogenic avian influenza
(HPAI) at a commercial poultry premises near Omagh.
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
Tuesday 03 March 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.”
Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher added: “Disease control
measures are crucial 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
reporting any suspect cases of avian flu to DAERA immediately.
“Samples from the infected premises have been sent to the
National Reference Laboratory to confirm strain and
pathogenicity. Should HPAI be officially confirmed, these TCZs
will be revoked and replaced with a 3 kilometre Protection Zone
(PZ) and 10 kilometre Surveillance Zone (SZ).”
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
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) for the whole of NI
remains in place, which means it is a legal requirement
for all poultry and other captive birds to be housed or
otherwise kept separate from wild birds. As part of the AIPZ,
bird keepers must follow strict biosecurity measures in
order to mitigate against disease incursion.
A ban on the gatherings of galliforme (including pheasants,
partridge, quail, chickens, turkey, guinea fowl), anseriforme
(including ducks, geese, swans) and poultry is also in force.
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.
