Captive birds in a nature reserve in Co Derry have tested positive for avian flu, leading to its closure to the public as a three kilometre control zone was thrown up.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the control zone is around a nature reserve outside Magherafelt but did not reveal the exact location, or premises, where the birds were found, though they were not among a commercial flock.
All the remaining captive birds on the site will be culled, an investigation is under way to find out the likely source of the infection while surveillance will be carried out of “poultry and other bird premises” within the control zone. A small number of birds tested positive, officials said.
Outbreaks of the highly pathogenic bird flu, or HPAI, have been reported across England, where gatherings of poultry and many other types of species are banned from midday on Monday.
This includes ducks, geese, swans, pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl, the UK Government said.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the flu poses a very low food safety risk to humans and that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
According to the Public Health Agency, the flu is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to people is very low. The premises near Magherafelt is now closed to the public
Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir 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,” Mr Muir added.
Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher is urging all all flock keepers “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 devastating impact on our poultry industry, international trade, and the wider economy,” Mr Dooher added.
