An Avian Influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) has been introduced in Northern Ireland from Saturday 18 January 2025, agriculture minister Andrew Muir has confirmed.
The decision to introduce the AIPZ in Northern Ireland comes following confirmation on Wednesday 15 January 2025 of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in a sample collected from a wild goose found near Black Lough, Dungannon, County Tyrone. This is the first wild bird positive in Northern Ireland since September 2023. In addition, on Friday 17 January 2025 two further wild birds tested positive for HPAI H5N1. One was a buzzard found near Moira and the other a whooper swan in Portballintrae.
The AIPZ places a legal requirement on all bird keepers in Northern Ireland to follow strict biosecurity measures. This applies if you keep pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard or hobby flock.
Muir said: “With the detection of the first cases of notifiable avian influenza in Northern Ireland since September 2023, all flock keepers should take immediate action on biosecurity and good farm practice to reduce the risk of incursion of avian influenza into the Northern Ireland poultry flock.
“Due to the first positive detections of HPAI in wild birds in NI since September 2023, I have decided to implement an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across Northern Ireland from 12:00 (noon) on Saturday 18 January 2025.”
“Northern Ireland relies heavily on the agri-food industry as a source of employment. Poultry and egg production contributes significantly to the economy, and is valued at over £600 million, it is vital that we protect this industry.”
Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland, Mr Brian Dooher, added: “The measures in the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone include stringent, mandatory biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the disease from wild birds or another source to poultry; a requirement that poultry or other captive birds are provided with food and water to which wild birds have no access, and mandatory rules on cleansing and disinfection.
“There is currently no requirement for poultry to be housed and bird gatherings are not prohibited at this stage, but this will be kept under constant review.
“I would encourage all flock keepers, even if you keep just one bird, to improve biosecurity in order to prevent an incursion of the disease into our poultry flock. If Avian Influenza were to enter our Northern Ireland flock, it would have a significant and devastating impact on our poultry industry, international trade and the wider economy.”