To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what disease control measures his Department is taking following confirmation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Worcestershire, England.

DAERA Officials conducted a veterinary risk assessment for Northern Ireland (NI) following the initial HPAI H5N1 case in England which determined our risk of incursion into poultry as being low with medium uncertainty.

No additional disease control measures have been taken in NI at this time, but my officials have been extensively communicating the need for biosecurity measures via normal channels to urge flock keepers to critically review their biosecurity arrangements as we enter the avian influenza season.

Since the initial Worcestershire case, two further cases of HPAI H5N1 have also been confirmed in Wrexham, Wales and in Angus, Scotland (as of 4 November). The infected premises in both Wales and Scotland are currently under restriction and disease control zones have been put in place around the infected premises (IP’s) to limit the spread of disease.

Due to these recent cases of H5N1 and the increased risk to poultry from wild birds, GB counterparts have approved the introduction of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across GB effective from 5pm, 3rd November. The AIPZ places a legal requirement on all bird keepers in GB to follow strict biosecurity measures. This applies if you keep pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard or hobby flock.

On 4th November, Republic of Ireland (RoI) officials reported a positive HPAI H5N1 finding in a peregrine falcon in County Galway. A further risk assessment will be undertaken following this finding to assess the current disease risk to our NI Poultry flock.

My officials will continue to work closely with colleagues across GB and RoI in relation to these recent positive findings and to determine next steps in relation to the possible introduction of an AIPZ here based on risk to the NI poultry flock.