Suspected bird flu case sparks Tyrone poultry farm cull

About 20,000 chickens are to be culled following a suspected outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at a commercial poultry premises near Omagh, County Tyrone.

The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) confirmed that disease control measures were initiated after signs of the notifiable disease were reported on Friday 3 October.

NI farming minister Andrew Muir described the incident as “a stark reminder that we cannot afford to be complacent”.

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“Initial results suggest the presence of notifiable HPAI,” he said.

“As a precautionary measure, the chief veterinary officer has applied appropriate disease control measures, including the humane culling of all poultry on-site and the introduction of temporary control zones (TCZs) to prevent further spread.”

The farm contained about 20,000 birds, but it was a sharp rise in deaths in one poultry house that raised suspicions.

Daera veterinary officer Ignatius McKeown told BBC News Northern Ireland: “The house contained 7,000 birds and the mortality increased from three one day, to 20 the next day, and then after we had taken samples, the deaths had increased to over 300.”

Despite the outbreak being limited to a single house, all birds on the premises will be culled as a containment measure.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland’s chief veterinary officer, stressed the importance of vigilance.

“The disease control measures are crucial to limit any potential spread. I appeal to all bird owners – backyard and commercial – to maintain excellent levels of biosecurity and report any suspect cases to Daera immediately,” he said.

Samples have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory to confirm the strain and severity.

If HPAI is confirmed, the current TCZs will be replaced by a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone.

This is the first suspected commercial outbreak in Northern Ireland since February. The poultry sector, worth an estimated £500m/year to the Northern Ireland economy, remains under close scrutiny.