Avian Influenza Prevention Zone to be lifted from June 1

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone to be lifted from June 1

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone in force across Northern Ireland is to be lifted on June 1.

Measures, imposing a range of compulsory biosecurity measures on poultry flocks, were introduced on November 17 to address the risk posed by avian influenza to the poultry sector.

The lifting of the prevention zone comes a month after a bird flu prevention order to keep poultry indoors in Northern Ireland was scrapped.

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots said: “Thanks to the determined efforts from the poultry sector in Northern Ireland to protect their flocks and minimise the impact of disease, we are now in a position to lift the AIPZ and reduce all mandatory restrictions placed on bird keepers as well as allow poultry gatherings from 1 June.

“I’m sure this will be welcome news for the sector which contributes greatly to our economy and wider society.”

The 2021/22 aviation flu outbreak has been described by DAERA as the worst ever in these islands.

In Northern Ireland, six commercial and backyard flocks were culled after the detection of the highly infectious strain, HPAI H5N1.

Six outbreaks were also confirmed in the Republic, mostly in County Monaghan, and one in County Cavan.

In Great Britain, there have been 109 outbreaks since the first was detected in October 2021.

Hundreds of thousands of birds have been culled in a bid to prevent the spread of the disease, which usually proves fatal and poses a serious risk to the commercial poultry trade.