Three wild birds have tested positive for avian flu, prompting the introduction of emergency measures to stop its spread.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) will be in place from noon on Saturday Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said.
This follows the confirmation on Wednesday that a wild goose found near Black Lough, Dungannon, County Tyrone, had the flu, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1.
This was the first wild bird found to be positive for the flu in the north since September 2023.
On Friday, two more wild birds tested positive for HPAI H5N1, one a buzzard found near Moira and the other a whooper swan in Portballintrae.
An AIPZ places a legal requirement on all bird keepers in Northern Ireland to follow strict biosecurity measures, DAERA said, adding that this also applies to pet birds, commercial flocks or “just a few birds in a backyard or hobby flock”.
Minister Muir said: “With the detection of the first cases of notifiable avian influenza in Northern Ireland since September 2023, all flock keepers should take immediate action on biosecurity and good farm practice to reduce the risk of incursion of avian influenza into the Northern Ireland poultry flock.
“Due to the first positive detections of HPAI in wild birds in NI since September 2023, I have decided to implement an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across Northern Ireland from 12:00 (noon) on Saturday 18 January 2025.”
The minister added: “Northern Ireland relies heavily on the agri-food industry as a source of employment. Poultry and egg production contributes significantly to the economy, and is valued at over £600 million, it is vital that we protect this industry.”
Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher said the prevention zone announcement means “stringent, mandatory biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the disease from wild birds or another source to poultry; a requirement that poultry or other captive birds are provided with food and water to which wild birds have no access and mandatory rules on cleansing and disinfection”.
“There is currently no requirement for poultry to be housed and bird gatherings are not prohibited at this stage, but this will be kept under constant review,” he added.
“I would encourage all flock keepers, even if you keep just one bird, to improve biosecurity in order to prevent an incursion of the disease into our poultry flock.
“If Avian Influenza were to enter our Northern Ireland flock, it would have a significant and devastating impact on our poultry industry, international trade and the wider economy.”
