Restrictions within local poultry flocks are now in place after a number of confirmed cases of the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of avian influenza (bird flu) on sites across Britain.

With the disease spreading throughout Europe, the first confirmed case in England was in turkeys on a poultry farm in Lincolnshire.

Since then, the same strain of the disease has been found over the past week in wild birds in England, Scotland and Wales.

That has resulted in a ban on all gatherings of poultry (auctions, shows or other events), and flock keepers being instructed that they must keep birds housed (under cover and separate from wild birds), and must put in place a high level of biosecurity.

This also applies to NI, with DAERA chief vet Robert Huey declaring an “avian flu prevention zone”, effective from noon on 23 December for 30 days.

That requires housing of birds, good practice around use of disinfectant and that steps are taken to minimise the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to sites where poultry are kept. The ban on gatherings in NI applies to all poultry and game bird species, as well as ducks and geese, but not pigeons or aviary birds.

Highlighting that the decision to declare a 30-day prevention zone was precautionary, and that no cases have been confirmed here, Huey still urged poultry keepers to be vigilant, and where necessary, to improve their biosecurity.

Guidance to help bird keepers find practical ways of minimising contact with wild birds is available in the leaflet Preparing for Avian Influenza – Separating flocks from Wild Birds on the DAERA website.

Surveillance

DAERA has increased its surveillance activity in response to the latest outbreak. Post-mortem examinations of birds are undertaken where any at-risk bird species (wildfowl or gulls), or five or more birds of any other species, are found dead in the same location and at the same time.

Bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for consumers, and thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.