Suspect case of notifiable Avian Flu found in commercial poultry premises, Co Tyrone 05/03/26
Date published:
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, Andrew Muir 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.
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.
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.
- Follow DAERA on X formerly called Twitter and Facebook.
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.
- 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.