A suspected case of bird flu has been discovered at a commercial poultry farm near Dungannon, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, where 64,000 birds are set to be slaughtered.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) was notified of the suspected outbreak on Friday.
Disease control measures have been initiated as a precautionary response to the suspected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) case.
The poultry industry, worth £600million to the Northern Irish economy, now faces its first potential commercial flock outbreak this year, following several confirmed cases in wild birds.
64,000 birds are set to be culled (stock pic)
PA
Temporary control zones have been established around the affected premises to mitigate any potential spread of the disease.
Samples from the infected site have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory to confirm the strain and pathogenicity of the virus.
If HPAI is officially confirmed, the temporary control zones will be replaced with a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone.
The measures include the humane culling of all poultry at the site as a precautionary step.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been in place across Northern Ireland since mid-January, requiring strict biosecurity measures.
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The measures include the humane culling of all poultry at the site as a precautionary step (stock pic)
PA
A mandatory housing order for all poultry will has taken effect in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The order requires all bird keepers, from those with pet birds to commercial operators, to keep their birds indoors or otherwise separate from wild birds.
The Republic's housing order follows recent detections of HPAI in wild birds across counties Galway, Donegal, Dublin, Westmeath and Wexford over the past two months.
Irish Farmers' Association poultry committee chairman Nigel Sweetnam warned against complacency, citing America's experience where egg prices tripled after 40 million hens were removed from the food chain.
Stormont Minister for Agriculture Andrew Muir said: "It is crucial that all bird owners – from backyard hobbyists to commercial flock keepers with thousands of birds – adhere to all biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and report any suspect cases to the Department as soon as possible."
Northern Ireland's Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher appealed to all bird owners to take necessary protective steps.
He said: "This includes ensuring continuous excellent levels of biosecurity and adhering to all the requirements mandated under the AIPZ."
He added that if HPAI is confirmed, the temporary zones would be replaced with protection and surveillance zones.
