Case of highly pathogenic bird flu suspected near Omagh

DAERA is awaiting the results of tests on samples taken from a suspected case of bird flu in a commercial poultry flock north-west of Omagh, Co Tyrone.

Reported to authorities on Friday, clinical signs and preliminary results point towards the suspect case being the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu.

The flock in question has been humanely culled and a temporary control zone put in place around a 3km radius from the case site since Saturday morning as precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

The declaration of the temporary control zone puts restrictions on the movement of poultry and poultry products, such as eggs, as well as ramping up the biosecurity requirements of flocks within the zone.

Should the samples confirm bird flu, a 10km surveillance zone is to be established.

No room for complacency - Muir

This year has seen 41 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza found in wild birds across Ireland, 40 of which were confirmed with H5N1 strain.

One outbreak of H5N1 occurred in a “very small” captive bird flock in Co Donegal in July.

“This suspect incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza is a stark reminder that we cannot afford to be complacent,” Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture Andrew Muir said.

“It is imperative that all bird owners – from backyard hobbyists to commercial flock keepers with thousands of birds – adhere to all biosecurity measures to protect their flocks.”

Members of the public have been asked to report findings of dead swans, geese, ducks or gulls, as well as any findings of five or more other wild bird species at the same location, but not to touch the birds.

Heydon urges vigilance on biosecurity

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has urged poultry keepers to maintain the highest levels of biosecurity to safeguard flocks from bird flu.

The minister said that the Department of Agriculture has been in “regular and close communication” with DAERA on the issue of highly pathogenic bird flu.

“As we enter into the winter months, the risk of avian influenza becomes higher,” Minister Heydon commented.

“My message for anybody who has poultry or kept birds is clear: please take strict precautions and exercise the highest standards of biosecurity to protect your flocks from the threat of avian influenza, and to protect the poultry sector in Ireland.

“We know that this virus has been found this year in wild birds across Ireland. Biosecurity is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry.”

Legal duty

Minister Heydon called on all poultry keepers – operating at commercial or backyard scale – to adhere to their legal duty to register their flock.

“It is vital that all poultry holdings are registered with my Department, whether commercial farms or those who have one or two backyard hens,” he said.

“It is a legal requirement, and it is also essential to help protect poultry flocks and farmers' livelihoods from the impacts which an outbreak of this disease would bring.”