A mandatory housing order for all poultry and captive birds has taken effect across Ireland today, as authorities battle to contain the spread of bird flu. The measure comes in the wake of a major outbreak in Northern Ireland that led to the culling of 64,000 birds in County Tyrone.
Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon’s order requires all bird keepers, from commercial farmers to hobby enthusiasts, to confine their birds in secure buildings and implement strict biosecurity measures. The directive also prohibits any gatherings of poultry and captive birds.
According to The Journal, the urgency of these measures has been highlighted by recent developments, including a suspected case of avian flu at a Tyrone farm and an earlier detection at a nature reserve in Magherafelt, County Derry. Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir confirmed that precautionary control measures, including the establishment of Temporary Control Zones, have been implemented to prevent further spread.
Ireland has recorded five cases of avian influenza in wild birds since early December, with infections documented in Counties Galway, Dublin, Donegal, Westmeath, and Wexford. The Irish Farmers’ Association has welcomed the housing order, with IFA Poultry Chair Nigel Sweetnam emphasizing its importance given the proximity of the Tyrone outbreak to other poultry farms near the border.
Public health officials are advising people not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any incidents to their Regional Veterinary Office or the National Disease Emergency Hotline at 01 492 8026 outside business hours.