Avian flu outbreak is 'largest ever experienced on these islands'

By Q Radio News

The avian flu outbreak is the largest ever experienced on these islands, Stormont's agriculture commitee has heard.

Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said the disease has been confirmed at two premises in Northern Ireland - Aughnacloy and Broughshane - and four in the Republic.

It has also been detected in nine wild birds in the Waterworks Park in north Belfast, West Belfast lough, lough shore Portadown, Monough Lake near Carryduff and Hillsborough.

Avian flu outbreak is 'largest ever experienced on these islands' https://t.co/zRa2QAaR9O

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The disease is present at 33 premises in England, three in Wales and two in Scotland.

The four flocks in the Republic are located in Cavan (one) and Monaghan (four) and an exclusion zone in Cavan and one in Monaghan have extended into Northern Ireland.

Jim Blee from the department said it was “now the largest ever outbreak of avian influenza on these islands”. 

He said the Food Safety Authority classed the food safety risk as "very low" in eggs and cooked poultry.