A SUSPECTED CASE of bird flu has been identified in a commercial poultry premises near Omagh in Co Tyrone. 

Northern Ireland’s department of agriculture, environment and rural affairs said disease control measures have been initiated after the suspect case of the “highly pathogenic” H5N1 avian influenza. 

The North’s agriculture minister Andrew Muir said the case was reported on Friday and initial results “suggest the presence of notifiable HPAI”.

He said the chief veterinary officer has taken the precautionary decision to apply appropriate disease control measures, “including the humane culling of all poultry on the site”.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has urged all those with poultry and kept birds to implement the highest standards of biosecurity “to protect their flocks from avian influenza”. 

“As we enter into the winter months, the risk of avian influenza becomes higher,” he 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.”

So far this year, 41 cases of bird flu have been detected in wild birds across Ireland. Of those, all but one owere H5N1. One single outbreak of H5N1 occurred in a very small captive bird flock in Co Donegal in July.

“We know that this virus has been found this year in wild birds across Ireland. Biosecurity is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry,” Heydon said.

He expressed support for Muir, adding that the Department of Agriculture is in regular and close communication with its Northern Ireland counterparts and is keeping the situation under ongoing review.

“It is vital that all poultry holdings are registered with my Department, whether commercial farms or those who have one or two backyard hens,” he said.

“It is a legal requirement, and it is also essential to help protect poultry flocks and farmers livelihoods from the impacts which an outbreak of this disease would bring”.

Details on how to register a poultry flock may be found here.