RESTRICTION MEASURES IMPOSED AFTER
BIRD FLU OUTBREAK ON CLONES TURKEY FARM

The culling of 3,800 turkeys on a Clones commercial poultry farm in a location close to the Border commenced on Tuesday morning last after avian influenza was detected in the flock. The Department of Agriculture confirmed on Sunday that avian influenza H5N1 had been identified in several birds on the farm following testing at a number of sites in the Clones area.

A 3 km protection zone and a 10 km surveillance zone were immediately put in place around the farm by the Department, which stated that, following the culling of the birds, a preliminary clean and disinfection of the housing would take place. After this was completed, protection zones will remain in place for between 21-30 days. The Irish poultry sector, which is largely centred in Co Monaghan, had been on high alert in recent weeks after a number of cases of bird flu had been reported in wild birds, mainly in coastal areas of the country.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McCreevy TD had imposed a housing order for all poultry which became effective on Monday last. IFA Regional President for Ulster and North Leinster Frank Brady said he believed wild birds were responsible for introducing the disease to commercial farms. “It’s coming from wild birds this year,” Mr Brady told media representatives when he visited Co Monaghan earlier this week. “This particular turkey farm is near to a lake, so that’s possibly where it came from. There may also have been contamination from wild birds flying …