Poultry farmers on alert as bird flu threat heightens
As a highly contagious strain of bird flu has been detected in a wild bird in County Monaghan, a senior IFA official has urged poultry farmers to take all precautions to ensure it doesn’t spread to commercial flocks.
Biosecurity was the watchword as the IFA’s regional chairman for Ulster/north Leinster Nigel Renaghan reacts to the detection of a third case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N8).
Mr Renaghan, who is also a poultry farmer in Clontibret, says the news is a cause of worry to all in the sector.
“It’s of great concern,” Mr Renaghan told the Celt. “It’s particularly important that all poultry farmers, particularly in this region, have the highest amount of biosecurity. All vehicles coming onto site must be disinfected.
“Only absolutely essential visitors should be allowed on site, and even then the farmer should provide a change of clothing and all equipment must be disinfected.”
The most recent case of the new strain of bird flu was detected in Ballybay. It’s the third case recorded in Ireland. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed to the Celt on Monday that it appears Influenza H5N8 is, as yet, only in wildfowl: “There have been no outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in any commercial flocks or other poultry in Ireland year to date.”
This was confirmed by Minister Charlie McConalogue responding to a parliamentary query by Deputy Niamh Smyth: “Ireland is currently in the high risk period (October to April) for the introduction of Avian Influenza (AI) as a result of the migration of wild birds returning to overwinter from areas where AI is widespread,” the minister said.
Replying to Deputy Smyth’s question, the minister acknowledged that the Department was aware of the threat of the virus.
“H5N8 has been confirmed in several species of wild birds on mainland Europe, the UK and there have been three cases in wild birds in the republic of Ireland.”
The case in Limerick involved a peregrine falcon, the case in Mayo involved a curlew and the case in Ballybay involved a cygnet (mute swan).
The concern is that the virus will spread from the wild bird population to poultry farms, through direct contact and in particular through faeces from wild birds infected with the virus. The Department’s reaction is the implementation of an awareness campaign and advising poultry owners to take increased biosecurity measures.
The IFA’s regional chairman says it’s important to heed the Department’s advice: “We don’t have any instances in our flocks at the moment and that is the way we want to keep it.”
Notification
Notification is another important factor in ensuring that the AI is contained. Mr Renaghan says all farmers should be aware of the importance of notifying the department about dead wildfowl found on their lands.
“They should be notifying immediately. Guys out hunting who come across dead birds should also be part of the chain.
“Still the primary focus is on biosecurity, ensuring minimum contact. If a farmer has free range eggs, then apart from the delivery of meal and the person taking away the eggs then no one should be entering the site,” he explains.
An outbreak of the H6N1 virus earlier this year saw more than 605,000 birds culled after 13 outbreaks in the county. There is no cure or vaccine for H5N8 infected birds.
The detection in a falcon and a curlew, both relatively rare species, has acted as a red flag for action on the virus.
“It’s a testament to the detection process going on at the minute. If it’s in the wild, it’s going to be turning up in all birds. That is a fact of life. If it’s being detected, it’s a good sign, it means that the systems and protocols are working, rather than poultry farmers worrying if it’s going to turn up,” Mr Renaghan concluded.
The message from the Department is that flock owners should remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks, report any disease suspicion to their nearest Regional Veterinary Office and have a renewed emphasis on bio-security on the farm.