Thousands of birds will be removed in Tailong County after reported avian flu in commercial poultry sites.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) was notified on Friday at a business in Denggannon.
Secretary Andrew Muir said that after further investigation, appropriate disease control measures have been taken, including “humane elimination of all poultry on site,” i.e. 64,000 birds.
He said it was a “precautionary measure.”
Temporary control area
He added: “After this suspicious HPAI invasion, the recently confirmed case at a captured bird site near Magrafelt further demonstrates that we cannot be complacent.”
Temporary control zones (TCZs) are also established to alleviate any further spread of the disease.
Northern Ireland’s chief veterinary officer Brian Dooher called on all bird owners in “backyard and commercial” to take the necessary steps to protect the flock.
“This includes ensuring a continuous level of biosafety and complying with all requirements set out under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ),” he said.
“Samples of infection sites have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory to confirm strain and pathogenicity. If HPAI is formally confirmed, these TCZs will be revoked and replaced with a three-kilometer protected area (PZ) and a 10-kilometer surveillance area (SZ). ,” he added.
Last week, the department announced that all preserved birds and poultry must be indoors starting Monday to mitigate the potential spread of avian influenza.
The Republic of Ireland issued a similar order.
Since January 18, the Bird Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been applied for on NI.
