Latest news with #NationalDiseaseEmergencyHotline
Agriland
27-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Bird flu biosecurity measures to be lifted north and south
Bird flu biosecurity measures are to be lifted in the Republic and Northern Ireland from May 31, government departments, north and south, confirmed today (Tuesday, May 27) . Biosecurity regulations for poultry, which had been introduced last December in the Republic, are to be lifted from May 31, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, said. Meanwhile the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister, Andrew Muir, also confirmed that in Northern Ireland, both the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) and a ban on poultry gatherings will also be lifted from noon May 31. Bird flu According to Minister Heydon, 'the risk of an avian influenza outbreak in our poultry is lower' in summer months than it was over the colder winter months. 'It is appropriate now to lift the regulations which had made strict biosecurity measures compulsory to protect Irish poultry. 'These biosecurity actions are still best practice and I strongly advise anyone with poultry, whether a large farm or a few backyard hens, to continue to implement them,' the minister added. He also warned that 'there is still a risk, and avian influenza is expected to remain a threat to the Irish poultry sector throughout the year'. Minister Heydon added: 'Biosecurity is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry, or between poultry flocks, and must be practised year-round. 'I want to praise the huge efforts which have been made across the poultry sector to protect our poultry industry from avian influenza and the serious consequences of an outbreak'. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has continued to stress that members of the public should not handle sick or dead wild birds and also report any incidences of sick or dead wild birds to their regional veterinary office or via the Avian Check App or the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026 Northern Ireland Meanwhile, DAERA said that compulsory biosecurity measures had previously been introduced in Northern Ireland 'to address the risk posed by avian influenza to the poultry sector'. According to Minister Muir, the lifting of these measures is a welcome step. 'I want to thank all flock keepers for their vigilance and adherence to good biosecurity measures. This has undoubtedly limited the spread of this disease in NI over the recent months. 'Thanks to the determined efforts from the poultry sector in Northern Ireland to protect their flocks and minimise the impact of disease, we are now in a position to lift the AIPZ and reduce all mandatory restrictions placed on bird keepers,' he added. However Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer, Brian Dooher said while the measures of the AIPZ are no longer a legal requirement, 'the need for stringent, mandatory biosecurity measures are still of paramount importance to help prevent the spread of the disease from wild birds or another source to poultry'. 'Any future bird gatherings should also meet the conditions of a general licence and notify the department in advance. 'It is imperative that we don't get complacent. The risk of an avian influenza incursion to poultry is still present, albeit lower than before. Lower risk does not mean no risk,' Dooher added.
Irish Examiner
27-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Avian flu regulations are to be lifted at the end of this month
Regulations restricting poultry due to avian influenza will be lifted at the end of May 2025. Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, announced that the biosecurity regulations (SI 666/2024) placed on flocks since December 6, 2024 will be lifted from May 31 for highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI). These biosecurity measures were made mandatory in December to counter the spread of HPAI, but still remain the best everyday practices for poultry farmers and flock owners. This announcement follows the lifting of the mandatory housing order, which was implemented in February and was lifted earlier this month. Speaking on the announcement, the minister said: 'As we move into the summer, the risk of an avian influenza outbreak in our poultry is lower than it was over the colder winter months. It is appropriate now to lift the regulations which had made strict biosecurity measures compulsory to protect Irish poultry. These biosecurity actions are still best practice, and I strongly advise anyone with poultry, whether a large farm or a few backyard hens, to continue to implement them. There is still a risk, and avian influenza is expected to remain a threat to the Irish poultry sector throughout the year. Biosecurity is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry, or between poultry flocks, and must be practised year-round.' The department has reported in their most recent avian influenza update that no HPAI was detected in Ireland in poultry or wild birds in the month of April 2025. The department warn flock owners that HPAI is still a major risk for flocks in Ireland and biosecurity measures still remain the number one method in preventing and controlling the spread of the disease. The Minister added: 'I want to praise the huge efforts which have been made across the poultry sector to protect our poultry industry from avian influenza and the serious consequences of an outbreak.' Pet owners are continued to be advised to keep dogs on a leash when walking where sick or dead wild birds are or have been present. Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds of any species. Any dead wild birds should be reported to the Regional Veterinary Office in the area or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026 or use the Department's Avian Check app.
RTÉ News
27-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Biosecurity regulations in place over bird flu risk are lifted
Special biosecurity regulations for poultry that were in place due to the increased risk of avian influenza - or bird flu - are to be lifted. The measures were introduced last December amid a heightened risk of bird flu, and will be revoked from the end of May. Earlier this month a housing order for poultry flocks and captive birds that was also in place was revoked. No outbreaks of the high pathogenic HPAI strain were detected in commercial poultry flocks in Ireland last year or so far in 2025. However, during the first three months of this year 19 wild birds tested positive for bird flu although there were no positive cases in April. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon said: "As we move into the summer, the risk of an avian influenza outbreak in our poultry is lower than it was over the colder winter months. "It is appropriate now to lift the regulations which had made strict biosecurity measures compulsory to protect Irish poultry. "These biosecurity actions are still best practice and I strongly advise anyone with poultry, whether a large farm or a few backyard hens, to continue to implement them. "There is still a risk, and avian influenza is expected to remain a threat to the Irish poultry sector throughout the year. "Biosecurity is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry, or between poultry flocks, and must be practised year-round." The Minister added: "I want to praise the huge efforts, which have been made across the poultry sector to protect our poultry industry from avian influenza and the serious consequences of an outbreak." Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead wild birds to their regional veterinary office or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026 or use the Department of Agriculture's 'Avian Check' app.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Poultry housing order to protect flocks from bird flu to be lifted next month
The compulsory housing order for poultry and captive birds, which was introduced in February in a bid to protect flocks from avian influenza, will be lifted on May 10. Making the announcement, minister for agriculture Martin Heydon urged flock keepers to continue to be cautious against the risk of the disease. He said: 'The risk of avian influenza to our poultry is no longer as high as it had been in recent months, so it is now appropriate to lift the housing order and prohibition on the assembly of live birds. "I want to acknowledge the hard work and cooperation from the Irish poultry industry in recent months, with farmers, vets, processors and others all working together to reduce the chances of an outbreak, which could have had such serious consequences. It is important to note that avian influenza is still a risk and will remain a threat to Irish poultry for the foreseeable future. 'Biosecurity is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry, or between poultry flocks, and must be practised year-round.' The poultry biosecurity regulations introduced on December 6, 2024, continue to remain in force. However, the housing order will be revoked with effect from May 10. The department's latest technical report on bird flu explained while no outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been detected in poultry in the Republic of Ireland during 2024 or 2025 (to date), the confirmation in Northern Ireland of three avian influenza outbreaks on commercial poultry farms and one in captive birds, along with the continued circulation of the virus in wild birds across the island, shows the risk to poultry flocks in Ireland remains high. A total of 19 wild birds have tested positive for HPAI in the first quarter of 2025. Of these, 18 tested positive for the HPAI H5N1 subtype, and one positive for the AI H5Nx subtype. Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead wild birds to their Regional Veterinary Office or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01-492-8026 or use the department's 'Avian Check App'. Read More UK detects world's first case of bird flu in a sheep
