AQW 26655/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 30/11/2021
Answered On Date: 14/12/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail his Department’s public communication plan surrounding the new housing order for all birds in Northern Ireland, in order to control the spread of Avian Influenza.

Answer:

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza HPAI H5N1 has been confirmed at two poultry premises in Northern Ireland (NI) on 7 December 2021. The first case was confirmed in a commercial premises in County Tyrone consisting of 27,000 breeding ducks and the second case was in a small backyard flock in County Antrim consisting of approximately 30 birds. In addition HPAI H5N1 has also been confirmed in nine wild birds in NI. .

As of 7 December 36 cases of (HPAI) H5N1 have been confirmed in premises across Great Britain (GB). In addition, HPAI H5N1 has been confirmed on three commercial holdings in County Monaghan and one in County Cavan, Republic of Ireland (ROI)

In line with my Department’s Contingency Plan for Epizootic Disease, my officials have undertaken frequent engagement and communications with local industry since before the first confirmed case, to heighten awareness and deliver key messages on how to protect the NI poultry flock from an avian influenza incursion.

My Department has also worked closely with the Public Health Agency (PHA) since the commencement of this most recent outbreak to agree communications and key messages to the public on what to do in the event of finding a sick or dead wild bird, and who should be contacted in this event.

While the PHA consider the risk of HPAI H5N1 in NI to be of a very low risk to the public the Department has worked closely with them to develop a wild bird advice poster which has been distributed to local councils for display in public parks.

Officials have continued to update the DAERA website as the outbreak develops, held regular meetings with stakeholders and have informed poultry keepers who are located in disease control zones who will be required to adhere to a number of legal requirements including the licensing in advance with DAERA of moves of poultry and poultry related products within, into and out of the zones.

My officials have also delivered an extensive communications campaign across all media channels on the current situation and emphasising the importance of good biosecurity. The Department hosted a ‘Protect Your Flock’ webinar on 1 December in conjunction with CAFRE which was aimed at the backyard and hobby flock keeper sector focussing on the practical steps that can be taken to protect their flocks.

My officials will continue to monitor the situation across these islands to determine the risk levels to the NI poultry flock and work extensively with industry, and with colleagues in both GB and the ROI to ensure they cointinued to be informed on the situation and the measures that are required to minimise the impact of this outbreak on the poulty industry.