Three swans found dead in Northern Ireland are being tested for bird flu. The tests follow confirmation today that a swan found dead in Scotland was killed by the lethal H5N1 strain of the virus.
Minister for Agricuture Mary Coughlan: State is preapred for bird flu
The dead swans, one found in Moira, Co Down, and the other two in Portglenone, Co Antrim, were taken for examination by vets from the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland this morning.
A spokeswoman for the department said officials have carried out surveillance on dead birds since early autumn, but interest has been heightened due to today's case in Scotland.
The results of the tests are expected tomorrow.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, insisted Ireland is prepared for the possibility of bird flu arriving here following the case in Scotland.
Last night it was confirmed that a sample from the mute swan, which was found over a week ago on a harbour slipway in the village of Cellardyke on the east coast of Scotland, had tested positive for "highly pathogenic H5 avian flu". H5 is a contagious strain and can be fatal to birds.
This afternoon the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said that the swan which died in Scotland had tested positively for the H5N1 strain of the virus. The Scottish Executive confirmed the results this evening.
Labour Agriculture spokesman Dr Mary Upton
Although the H5N1 strain, which affects wild birds and poultry, does not easily pass from human to human, there are concerns it could mutate into a human illness. If this occurred, it would spread rapidly as humans have almost no resistance to it.
Ms Coughlan said that the risk of bird flu spreading to Ireland had "naturally" increased since the case was confirmed in Scotland but she added that there was no need to change the precautions already in place.
Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún called for a "stringent all Ireland response to the spread of avian flu". MP Michelle Gildernew for Fermangh and South Tyrone said that the importation of poultry from Britain must stop immediately.
Ms Coughlan said this morning the Government was working closely with authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland and has carried out an assessment of the risk to Ireland.
"We have a level of preparedness, in my view, that deals with the position at the moment. And if we need to change a risk-assessment or our status then other factors will be taken into consideration."
She insisted that despite the situation in Scotland, Ireland's status has not changed and there was only a "low-to-medium risk" of the infection reaching Irish soil.
Ms Coughlan accepted the fact the outbreak looked likely to be confirmed a mere 150 kilometres from Ireland, but called for "level-headedness" from the public.
She also ruled out vaccination of Irish poultry as a precaution. "My view is that we're not at that stage and that there would be huge repercussions as a consequence of vaccination, mainly because of the health status of the poultry."
The Minister asked consumers not to put the poultry industry at risk by stopping eating chicken and other birds. "There is no risk [to humans] in the consumption of poultry if it is cooked properly," she said. "We do not import any live poultry from countries affected by bird flu."
An expert group established by Ms Coughlan is monitoring the situation. This group has been working with the Department of Education, the national parks and Birdwatch Ireland.
Labour Party agriculture spokeswoman Dr Mary Upton said it appeared "inevitable" that bird flu would reach Ireland and demanded a more proactive approach by the Government.
"While Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan assures us that she is undertaking an assessment of this case and the particular implications for Ireland, there is a lot more that could be done," she said. "We should establish a biosecurity unit without further delay so that we can handle and contain the virus when it arrives." Dr Upton also called of the appointment of an official to co-ordinate the national response to avian flu.
The chairman of the Irish Farmers Association's poultry committee, Ned Morrissey, said flock owners were safeguarding their domestic flocks to avoid any exposure to wild birds. "Poultry producers meet the highest veterinary standards at all times, and are particularly vigilant at the moment to protect the health of their flocks," he said.