Captive Bird Temporary Control Zone in place following initial results of Avian Influenza outside Magherafelt
Date published:
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has introduced a 3km Captive Bird Temporary Control Zone (CBTCZ) around a nature reserve outside Magherafelt.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has introduced a 3km Captive Bird Temporary Control Zone (CBTCZ) around a nature reserve outside Magherafelt.
This follows preliminary positive results from the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a small number of captive birds.
The premises is now closed to the public and the Chief Veterinary Officer has put in place a range of immediate restrictions around the site, including the humane culling of the remaining captive birds.
A veterinary investigation is under way to determine the likely source of infection and surveillance will be conducted of poultry and other bird premises within the 3km CBTCZ.
The CBTCZ Declaration can be accessed on the DAERA website and lists the full extent of restrictions which must be adhered to by all poultry and captive bird keepers within the 3km zone around the affected premises.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has said: “The preliminary positive results of HPAI in captive birds is very disheartening. No captive bird site or poultry premises is immune from a potential incursion of this terrible disease, and it is of paramount importance that all bird keepers take appropriate action now to review and enhance their biosecurity measures to protect their birds from this highly infectious disease.”
Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland, Brian Dooher, added: “I would urge all flock keepers, in line with the requirements of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone in place across Northern Ireland, to take action to review and, where necessary, improve biosecurity in order to prevent further incursion of the disease. If avian influenza were to enter our Northern Ireland commercial flock, it would have a significant and devasting impact on our poultry industry, international trade, and the wider economy.”
DAERA stresses the mandatory legislative requirement that all keepers of birds (except keepers of pet birds kept in the owners home) must be registered with DAERA. If you have not already done so, please download a registration form on the DAERA website.
Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease. Anyone who suspects an animal may be affected by a notifiable disease must, by law, report it to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or your local DAERA Direct Office immediately. Failure to do so is an offence.
Notes to editors:
- Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease. Anyone who suspects an animal may be affected by a notifiable disease must report it to their local Divisional Veterinary Office.
- A copy of the Captive Bird Temporary Control Zone (CBTCZ) declaration is available here.
- The imposition of the CBTCZ requires the licensing of poultry, captive birds and poultry products both into and out of the zone to mitigate against the risk of onward disease spread and support disease tracing. Measures in the CBTCZ also include detailed record keeping, ban on gatherings and release of game, biosecurity measures and the housing or isolation of susceptible species within the 3km CBTCZ to prevent contact with wild bird.
- The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice notes 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.
- The Public Health Agency advice notes that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. For more information, please visit the PHA website.
- All poultry and other birds must be registered with DAERA. The application form is available here.
- More information about Avian Influenza - including biosecurity guidance - is available here.
- Members of the public are encouraged to report findings of dead waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, using the DAERA Dead Wild Bird Online Reporting Tool.
- Texts sent to 07860 098672 may be charged at your standard mobile network rate. There is no charge to receive text messages from this service. If you wish to be removed from this service, please text BIRDS OPT OUT to stop getting text messages.
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook at http://twitter.com/daera_ni and http://www.facebook.com/daerani.gov.uk
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.