Some 64,000 birds are being culled in Northern Ireland after a suspected case of bird flu at a commercial poultry farm.
Northern Ireland‘s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) was notified about the case on Friday.
It has now been decided that all birds at the farm – in Dungannon, County Tyrone – will be culled as a “precautionary measure”, Northern Ireland’s chief veterinary officer Brian Dooher has said.
A temporary control zone (TCZ) has also been put in place and samples from the farm have been sent for testing.
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Protection measures will be stepped up if results confirm the case is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), more commonly known as avian or bird flu.
Mr Dooher said: “The disease control measures have been taken 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.”
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Stormont’s minister of agriculture, environment and rural affairs, Andrew Muir, added: “This suspected incursion of HPAI, following the recently confirmed case at a captive bird premises near Magherafelt further shows we cannot afford to be complacent.
“It is crucial that all bird owners – from backyard hobbyists to commercial flock keepers with thousands of birds – adhere to all biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and report any suspect cases to the department as soon as possible.”
There have already been several confirmed cases of HPAI in wild birds across NI.
Read more:
Bird flu in the UK explained
Human case found in England
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A legal order requiring all bird keepers – including farmers and pet owners – to follow strict biosecurity measures has been in place in Northern Ireland since 18 January.
Another nationwide order, making it compulsory for all kept birds and poultry to be indoors or otherwise separate from wild birds, comes into place just after midnight.
