 There is no need to house free-range flocks |
The chances of avian flu reaching Northern Ireland are low, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has said. A Dard statement said that the risk of high pathogenic avian influenza entering Europe was low, and the risk to the province was lower still.
A contingency plan is in place which is reviewed and updated, Dard said.
It said there was no need to house free-range poultry flocks, but that it would conduct wild bird surveillance.
An avian flu survey is being carried out for the third year in succession on certain types of poultry. The surveys carried out in the two previous years were all negative for avian influenza.
Avian flu is currently present in South East Asia, Russia and Kazakhstan. It has not yet been found in Europe.
There is in place a ban on the entry of live poultry and poultry products from the affected areas.
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In the meantime, Dard said that it was reiterating the importance of biosecurity in preventing contact between domestic poultry and migratory wild birds.
It asked that "all stakeholders are vigilant in checking poultry for signs of disease and in reporting any unusual mortalities in poultry and migrating birds".
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