Latest Situation

09 June 2025

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has approved and published a UK self-declaration of the recovery of freedom from infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAI) in poultry for the zone of Northern Ireland.

The declaration can be viewed on the published self-declarations section of the WOAH website here.

A copy of the declaration can be directly downloaded here. 

DAERA will work closely with Defra Market Access colleagues in the coming days to understand the immediate impact on export certification.  

Should you have any export queries please contact DAERATradeExports@daera-ni.gov.uk in the first instance. 

27 May 2025

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) which was introduced across NI on 18 January will be lifted effective from 12:00 noon Saturday 31 May 2025.  The ban on bird gatherings will also be lifted. 

All poultry and bird gatherings will be permitted from 31 May 2025 provided organisers comply with the provisions of the General licence for bird gatherings available on the DAERA website.

Bird keepers can help prevent avian flu, and other diseases, by maintaining high levels of biosecurity on their premises. Please see our Biosecurity Checklist and Biosecurity Guidance to protect your flock.

10 May 2025

The housing measures which were introduced to help stop the spread of avian influenza have been lifted from 12:00 noon Saturday 10 May 2025.

Poultry and other captive birds will no longer require to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds.  As infection may still be circulating in the environment, scrupulous standards of biosecurity remain essential.  

The enhanced biosecurity requirements that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) currently remain in force, including the ban on the gatherings galliforme (including pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey, guinea fowl), anseriforme (including ducks, geese, swans) and poultry.

A copy of the AIPZ declaration can be found here.

Guidance on steps to take before letting birds outside can be accessed here. 

02 May 2025

The housing measures which were introduced to help stop the spread of avian influenza will be lifted from 12:00 noon on Saturday 10 May 2025.

Poultry and other captive birds will no longer require to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds.  As infection may still be circulating in the environment, scrupulous standards of biosecurity remain essential.  

The enhanced biosecurity requirements that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) currently remain in force, including the ban on the gatherings galliforme (including pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey, guinea fowl), anseriforme (including ducks, geese, swans) and poultry.

A Press Release can be accessed here.

All flock keepers including backyard and hobby keepers are encouraged to use the next week to prepare their ranges so that birds can be let outside again.  This will include cleansing and disinfection of hard surfaces, fencing off ponds or standing water and the reintroduction of wild bird deterrents.  

Guidance on steps to take before letting birds outside can be accessed here. 

01 April 2025 

Following the conclusion of veterinary surveillance activities, the Surveillance Zone (SZs) put in place following confirmation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in commercial poultry premises near Pomeroy and Cookstown, Co Tyrone on 28 February 2025, will be lifted.

This is effective from 12:00 on Tuesday 01 April 2025.

Please remember that an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) including a housing order and ban on gatherings is still in place across the whole of Northern Ireland.

A copy of the AIPZ Declaration effective from Monday 17 February 2025 and a Q&A can be accessed here.

26 March 2025

Following the conclusion of veterinary surveillance activities, the Surveillance Zone (SZ) put in place following confirmation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in a commercial poultry premises near Dungannon, Co Tyrone on 20 February 2025, will be lifted.

This is effective from 18:00 on Wednesday 26 March 2025.

SZs remain in place around Pomeroy and Cookstown premises.

24 March 2025

Following the successful completion of surveillance activities at both infected commercial premises near Pomeroy and Cookstown, County Tyrone, the 3km Protection Zones (PZ) in place there, will merge with the 10km Surveillance Zones (SZ).

This is effective from 12:00 on Monday 24 March 2025.

A PZ SZ declaration which details all the measures that must be adhered to for both premises can be accessed here.

18 March 2025

Following the successful completion of surveillance activities at the infected commercial premises near Dungannon, County Tyrone, the 3km Protection Zone (PZ) in place there, will merge with the 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ).

This is effective from 18:00 on Monday 17 March 2025.

A PZ SZ declaration which details all the measures that must be adhered to can be accessed here.

5 March 2025

The Captive Bird Monitoring Zone (CBMZ) has been lifted following the completion of all disease control activities and surveillance.

This is effective from 18:30 on Tuesday 4 March 2025.

28 February 2025

Further results have now confirmed that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is present in both commercial poultry premises near Pomeroy and Cookstown, County Tyrone.

As a result, the Temporary Control Zones (TCZs) that were in place, effective of 23 February and 24 February respectively, have been revoked and replaced by a 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) at each site, from 16:00hrs today, 28 February 2025.

A PZ and SZ declaration which details all the measures that must be adhered to can be accessed here.

24 February 2025

A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) has been established around a commercial poultry premises near Cookstown, County Tyrone following preliminary positive results for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland (NI), Brian Dooher, has taken the decision based on a number of factors including the clinical signs and preliminary results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

The TCZ comprises a 3km TCZ-A and a 10km TCZ-B.  The TCZ declaration which details all the measures that must be adhered to within the 3km and 10km zone can be accessed here.

23 February 2025

A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) has been established around a commercial poultry premises near Pomeroy, County Tyrone following preliminary positive results for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland (NI), Brian Dooher, has taken the decision based on a number of factors including the clinical signs and preliminary results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

The TCZ comprises a 3km TCZ-A and a 10km TCZ-B.  The TCZ declaration which details all the measures that must be adhered to within the 3km and 10km zone can be accessed here.

A Press Release issued by DAERA on this developing situation can be accessed here.

20 February 2025

Following the receipt of official laboratory confirmation by the National Reference Laboratory, Weybridge, England, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland has confirmed that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is present in a commercial poultry premises near Dungannon, County Tyrone.

As a result, the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) that was in place there, effective of Saturday 15 February, has been revoked and replaced by a 3km Protection Zone (PZ) and a 10km Surveillance Zone (SZ) from 08:45 hrs today, Thursday 20 February 2025.

A PZ and SZ declaration which details all the measures that must be adhered to can be accessed here.

15 February 2025

A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) has been established around a commercial poultry premises near Dungannon, County Tyrone following preliminary positive results for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland (NI), Brian Dooher, has taken the decision based on a number of factors including the clinical signs and preliminary results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

The TCZ comprises a 3km TCZ-A and a 10km TCZ-B.  The TCZ declaration which details all the measures that must be adhered to within the 3km and 10km zone can be accessed here. 

A Press Release issued by DAERA on this developing situation can be accessed here.

13 February 2025

Following official laboratory confirmation, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland has confirmed that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is present at a captive bird premises in Magherafelt, County Londonderry.

A 3km Captive Bird Monitoring Controlled Zone has been established around the affected premises.  This replaces the Captive Bird Temporary Control Zone that was declared around the premises on the 07 February 2025.

A copy of the Captive Bird Monitoring Controlled Zone declaration, which details all the measures that must be adhered to within the 3km zone is available here.

12 February 2025

Mandatory housing measures for all kept birds and poultry are to come into force across Northern Ireland (NI) from 00:01 on Monday 17 February 2025.

This is to mitigate against any incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) into our domestic poultry sector. 

The housing order, implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), legally requires all bird keepers, including owners of pet birds, commercial flocks, backyard and hobby flocks, to keep their birds indoors or otherwise separate from wild birds.  The move is part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) in Northern Ireland, introduced on 18 January 2025.

In addition, a ban on the gatherings of galliforme (including pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey, guinea fowl), anseriforme (including ducks, geese, swans) and poultry will be implemented in conjunction with this housing order.

Further details can be accessed at the Press Release here.

A copy of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone Declaration effective can be accessed here.

A copy of a General Licence (AIPM 66) (effective from 00:01 on Monday 17 February 2025) for what bird gatherings can take place under the AIPZ is available here.

07 February 2025

DAERA has introduced a 3km Captive Bird Temporary Control Zone (CBTCZ) around a captive bird premises outside Magherafelt, County Londonderry, following the receipt of preliminary positive results of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1.  

Further details can be accessed at the Press Release here.

A copy of the Captive Bird Temporary Control Zone (CBTCZ) Declaration, which details all the requirements that must be adhered to by poultry and other captive bird keepers within the 3km CBTCZ can be viewed here. 

17 January 2025

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been introduced in Northern from 12:00 noon on Saturday 18 January 2025.

Further details can be found here. 

16 January 2025

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in a wild goose found near Black Lough, Dungannon, County Tyrone. This is the first wild bird positive in Northern Ireland since September 2023.

Excellent biosecurity remains the best defence for reducing the risk of transmission of avian influenza to poultry or other captive birds. Please see our Biosecurity Checklist and Biosecurity Guidance to protect your flock.

5 November 2024

On Tuesday 5 November 2024, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N5 in a commercial poultry unit near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire.

This is the first confirmed case of avian influenza in kept poultry in Great Britain since February 2024.

Further information can be found here.

A DAERA press release regarding this confirmed case can be found here.