Minister emphasises importance of biosecurity for poultry as case of Avian Influenza detected in Northern Ireland
- Published on: 7 February 2025
- Last updated on: 12 February 2025
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has emphasised the need for all those with poultry and kept birds to implement the highest standards of biosecurity to protect their flocks from avian influenza. The Minister made his comments as a case of avian influenza was detected in a small captive bird flock in Co. Derry, Northern Ireland.
Minister Heydon said:
“My message for anybody who has poultry or kept birds is clear: please take strict precautions and exercise the highest standards of biosecurity to protect your flocks from the threat of avian influenza, and to protect the poultry sector in Ireland. We know that this virus is present in wild birds in Ireland. Biosecurity is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry.
“I want to express my support for the poultry farmers and Minister Muir’s officials in Northern Ireland who are dealing with this case of avian influenza and working hard to protect their poultry industry. My officials are in regular and close communication with their counterparts in Northern Ireland, given the importance of the poultry industry on both sides of the border. My officials are keeping this situation under ongoing review.”
Strict new biosecurity regulations for poultry were introduced on 6 December 2024 (SI 666/2024, the Avian Influenza (Biosecurity measures) Regulations) in response to the increased risk posed to Irish poultry flocks by the presence of avian influenza virus in wild birds in Ireland. Since early December, there have been five detections of avian influenza infection in wild birds in Ireland; one in Co Galway in early December, one in Co Dublin in later December, one in Co Donegal in mid-January, and one each in Co. Westmeath and Co. Wexford in late January.
Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead wild birds to their Regional Veterinary Office or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026. The department continues to closely monitor and assess the disease situation and is in regular contact with industry stakeholders and counterparts in Northern Ireland.
Further information, including a detailed technical update, is available at www.gov.ie/birdflu.