Written answers

Thursday, 19 January 2017

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Animal Disease Controls

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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238. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to deal with avian influenza; if consideration is being given to the implementation of additional preventative measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2279/17]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The H5N8 strain of avian influenza has been responsible for over 500 of outbreaks of disease in poultry and 430 mortality events in wild birds in Europe since the end of October 2016. There is a risk that H5N8 could spread to poultry or other birds here in Ireland mainly as a result of the movement of wild migratory birds.

On the 23 December last, my Department announced regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 requiring flock keepers to confine all poultry and captive birds in their possession or under their control in a secure building to which wild birds, or other animals do not have access, and to apply specific bio-security measures. This followed the confirmation of H5N8 in a wild bird in Wales, and is the first time such action has been taken by this Department. The requirement to keep birds confined remains in place until further notice but it will be kept under review. It is likely that this will be for a maximum of 12 weeks, in order to prevent any impact on the marketing status for free-range and organic reared poultry.

Bird gatherings (shows, exhibitions and races) are permitted under general licence, subject to prior notification and certain bio security conditions.

Subsequent to the confirmation of avian influenza subtype H5N8 in wild birds in Wexford last December, the disease has been confirmed in wild birds in Galway and in Tipperary earlier this month. These cases serve to confirm that infection in wild birds is likely well established in Ireland and that poultry flocks across the country are at risk from introduction of the virus. With this developing knowledge, I would re-emphasise the requirement to confine poultry and other birds, and to apply strict bio-security measures to prevent the introduction of avian influenza.  Poultry flock owners should remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks, and report any disease suspicion to their nearest Department Veterinary Office.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has confirmed that although the H5N8 subtype can cause serious disease in poultry and other birds, no human infections with this virus have been reported world-wide and therefore risk to humans is considered to be very low.

The Department continues to review all aspects of its contingency arrangements in light of any emerging veterinary or scientific information and will take measures that are considered appropriate, if necessary.

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