AQW 2812/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 05/09/2022
Answered On Date: 24/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the potential threat of rising avian influenza cases in wild birds to human and animal health.

Answer:

Avian influenza (AI) is primarily a disease of birds and the risk of transmission to humans is low. There is a very low food safety risk for UK consumers and properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

The need for stringent and effective biosecurity measures are of paramount importance to help prevent the spread of the disease from wild birds or another source to poultry. Individual site biosecurity remains a crucial mitigation factor.

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) officials continue to work closely with the Public Health Agency, local councils and the environmental non-governmental organizations on the issue of collecting and safely disposing of birds and providing advice to the public.

All keepers of birds are urged to critically review their biosecurity measures using the checklist provided on the DAERA website.