MONAGHAN POULTRY SECTOR ON ALERT AS NEW AVIAN FLU REGULATIONS ISSUED

The poultry sector in Co Monaghan moved into alert status this week after the Department of Agriculture issued new regulations in response to a heightened threat of bird flu. Flocks in the Cavan/Monaghan area were badly hit by the disease last year. So far in 2022 60 cases of bird flu have been confirmed in Ireland but these have so far been mainly confined to the wild bird population in southern counties. The Department said the regulations require specific biosecurity measures to be implemented by the keepers of all poultry (and other captive bird) flocks, irrespective of size, to help mitigate the risk of infection of their poultry.

In respect of flocks of 500 birds or more, the implementation of further enhanced biosecurity measures by flock-owners. The Department said all poultry flock owners should remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks, maintain strict biosecurity measures and report any disease suspicion to their nearest department Regional Veterinary Office. The Department added that the risk to public health was considered to be very low. IFA Poultry Chair Nigel Sweetnam said that bird flu was cyclical in nature, with larger outbreaks in the winter months as migratory birds moved south and brought the virus….