Birds culled, control zones introduced after suspected bird flu case

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said disease control measures were being introduced as a "precautionary measure"

Birds will be culled at a commercial poultry premises in County Tyrone following a suspected case of bird flu.

Disease control measures have been initiated by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) following a suspect case of the notifiable highly pathogenic, avian influenza (HPAI), at the site near Pomeroy.

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said the suspected case was reported on 1 November and initial results suggested the presence of HPAI, so disease control measures were being introduced as a "precautionary measure".

Almost 16,000 birds were also culled at a site near Pomeroy earlier this year due to suspected bird flu.

Temporary Control Zones (TCZ) will also be introduced to mitigate for onward disease spread.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has confirmed Avian Influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public's health is very low.

'Crucial to limit any potential spread'

Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher took the decision based on number of factors including the clinical signs and preliminary results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

He said the disease control measures were "crucial to limit any potential spread of disease" and stressed the "utmost importance of ensuring continuous excellent levels of biosecurity and reporting any suspect cases of avian flu to Daera immediately".

Muir added that all bird owners must adhere to all biosecurity measures to protect their flocks.

Full details of the scope and measures required within the TCZs have been published on the Daera website.