Pigeon Network

Bird flu update
NIPA Office16 January 2025
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in a wild goose found near Black Lough, Dungannon, County Tyrone. This is the first wild bird positive in Northern Ireland since September 2023.
This should act as a stark warning to all bird keepers against any form of complacency. Detailed information including a checklist on how to improve biosecurity can be found on the DAERA Avian Influenza Hub.
Continual high standards of biosecurity on all poultry premises is the most effective tool in protecting Northern Ireland and your birds against this disease.
Some simple measures flock keepers can take to protect their birds against the threat of avian flu are as follows:
Keeping the area where birds live clean and tidy, controlling rats and mice and regularly disinfecting any hard surfaces
Cleaning footwear before and after visits
Placing birds’ feed and water in fully enclosed areas that are protected from wild birds, and removing any spilled feed regularly
Putting fencing around outdoor areas where birds are allowed and limiting their access to ponds or areas visited by wild waterfowl
Where possible, avoid keeping ducks and geese with other poultry species
DAERA are keen to receive further reports of dead wild birds for HPAI surveillance. If you find dead waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, you can report them using the DAERA Dead Wild Bird Online Reporting Tool.
Furthermore, any suspicion of avian influenza must be reported to the Department without delay.
Please share this information with your stakeholders and members highlighting that continual high standards of biosecurity are imperative.

BBC Report click here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9qjjxx1jzeo

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been introduced in Northern Ireland from 12:00 noon on Saturday 18 January 2025.

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. In addition, on Friday 17 January 2025 two further wild birds have tested positive for HPAI H5N1. One was a buzzard found near Moira and the other a whooper swan in Portballintrae.

A Press Release issued by the DAERA Minister Andrew Muir can be accessed here.

A copy of the AIPZ Declaration, which details the full requirements which must be adhered to can be accessed here.
Detailed information including a checklist on how to improve biosecurity can be found on the DAERA Avian Influenza Hub.

Continual high standards of biosecurity on all poultry premises is the most effective tool in protecting Northern Ireland and your birds against this disease.

Please share this information with your stakeholders and members.

Kind Regards Steven Lucas

Steven Lucas | Veterinary Service Animal Health Group | Animal Disease Control Policy Branch

Level 1 | Jubilee House | 111 Ballykelly Road | Limavady | BT49 9HP

Contact: * steven.lucas@daera-ni.gov.uk | ( Tel: 02877442084 | ( DD: 49084|

Avian flu update
NIPA Office22nd February 2025
Schedule 5- Release of Racing Pigeons. Doves and other Columbiformes
(1) A keeper of racing pigeons, doves or other Columbiformes may:
(a) Temporarily let their birds out briefly before feeding each day to meet bird’s welfare
requirements for up to an hour. Lofts must not be left open for several hours for the birds to
come and go as they please. Contact between the racing pigeons, doves or other
Columbiformes either directly or indirectly with wild birds must be minimised wherever
possible
f6, Birds from the same loft/pigeon house may also be transported to a point some distance
from the home loft/pigeon house and released/liberated and allowed to return to the
loft/pigeon house as part of a training and conditioning programme. The vehicle and
baskets/boxes must be cleansed and disinfected using a DAERA approved disinfectant.
(c) Provided the gathering is registered with DAERA and the conditions of the General Licence
are complied with, multi-loft training, pigeon racing and other Columbiforme competitions
are permitted whilst the AlPZ is in force. Birds may be basketed, marked and transported
to a liberation site and released to fly back to their home loft/pigeon house. The
vehicle/transporter and baskets/boxes must be cleansed and disinfected using a
Government Approved Disinfectant.
(d) Pigeons, doves and other Columbiformes may be transported to another location and
released to fly free at functions and events provided the birds are either gathered and
returned to their home premises as soon as practicable or they fly to return to their home
premises. Care should be taken to avoid locations where there are large numbers of wild
birds or domestic poultry. Events where birds from more than one premises are present is
bird gathering and must be registered with DAERA and meet the conditions of the general
licence for bird gatherings

Date published: 23 February 2025

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is investigating a further suspected case of notifiable Avian Influenza in a commercial poultry premises near Pomeroy, Co Tyrone.


Preliminary test results indicate the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

In light of the initial positive findings, Temporary Control Zones (TCZs) have been established. All poultry at the site will be humanely culled. Brian Dooher, the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) for Northern Ireland, decided to implement these measures after assessing several factors including observed clinical signs and preliminary test results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, stated:

“A further suspect case of notifiable Avian Influenza was reported on Saturday 22 February at a commercial poultry premises with nearly 16,000 birds. Preliminary results suggesting HPAI. This suspected incursion following the recently confirmed case in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, reinforces that we cannot afford to be complacent. It is imperative that all bird owners adhere to stringent biosecurity measures to protect their flock and report any suspicious cases immediately.”

CVO Brian Dooher added: “The current disease control measures have been introduced to limit any potential spread of the disease. I urge all bird keepers, whether commercial or backyard, to maintain high biosecurity standards and fully comply with all requirements that have implemented to control this devastating disease.”

Full details regarding the scope and required measures within the Temporary Control Zones (TCZs) are available on the DAERA website.

Notes to editors:
Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease. Anyone who suspects an animal may be affected by a notifiable disease must, by law, report it to their local DAERA Direct Office.
The Public Health Agency has confirmed Avian Influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. The Food Standards Agency has also advised that Avian Influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers, and that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
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All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk

Hi EVERYONE

It looks like another outbreak in Co Tyrone, Cookstown area.

Regards Fred

Colleagues,

A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) has been established, from 17:00 today (Monday 24 February 2025), around a commercial poultry premises near Cookstown, County Tyrone following preliminary positive results for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland (NI), Brian Dooher, has taken the decision based on a number of factors including the clinical signs and preliminary results provided by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

The TCZ comprises a 3km TCZ-A and a 10km TCZ-B. The TCZ declaration which details all the measures that must be adhered to within the 3km and 10km zones has been attached for your convenience and can be accessed here.

All moves of poultry and poultry products from the zones are prohibited for a period of 48 hours from 09:00 today.

Further information on permitted moves and licensing arrangements can be found here.

Continual high standards of biosecurity on all poultry premises is the most effective tool in protecting Northern Ireland and birds against this disease. Some simple measures flock keepers can take to protect their birds against the threat of avian flu are as follows:

Keeping the area where birds live clean and tidy, controlling rats and mice and regularly disinfecting any hard surfaces
Cleaning footwear before and after visits
Placing birds’ feed and water in fully enclosed areas that are protected from wild birds, and removing any spilled feed regularly
Putting fencing around outdoor areas where birds are allowed and limiting their access to ponds or areas visited by wild waterfowl
Where possible, avoid keeping ducks and geese with other poultry species.
Detailed information including a checklist on how to improve biosecurity can be found on the DAERA Avian Influenza Hub.

DAERA stresses the mandatory legislative requirement that all keepers of birds (except keepers of pet birds kept in the owners home) must be registered with DAERA. If you have not already done so, please download a registration form on the DAERA website.

Avian Influenza is a notifiable disease. Anyone who suspects an animal may be affected by a notifiable disease must, by law, report it to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or your local DAERA Direct Office immediately. Failure to do so is an offence.

Please share this information with your members.

Kind regards

A close-up of a drop of water

Description automatically generated

Jim Blee I Deputy Director I Animal Health and Welfare Policy Division I Veterinary Service Animal Health Group I Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs I Ballykelly House I 111 Ballykelly Road I Ballykelly I Limavady I BT49 9HP



Tel: (028) 77442074 I Ext: 49074 I Mob: 07841 804 520 I Email: jim.blee@daera-ni.gov.uk

Colleagues
I am writing to inform you that following the successful completion of all disease control activities and surveillance at the premises near Magherafelt, the decision has been taken to lift the disease control zone. The Captive Bird Monitoring Zone around the affected premises has been lifted as of 1800hrs, 4 March 2025.
Registered flock keepers within the CBMZ will be notified.
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) for the whole of NI remains in place, which means it is still a legal requirement for all poultry and other captive birds to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds. As part of the AIPZ, bird keepers must follow strict biosecurity measures in order to mitigate disease spread and eradicate the disease.
In addition the disease control zones around the three affected commercial poultry premises remain in place as the disease control activities continue.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support with proactive messaging regarding vigilance, early reporting of suspected disease and importance of maintaining good biosecurity measures during this crucial period.
Kind regards