THE STRAIN of Newcastle Disease in Northern Ireland is "extremely virulent" and poultry farmers in the Republic should adopt a "fortress-like approach" to prevent it spreading south, according to the Irish Veterinary Association.
The restriction on movement into poultry farms must be implemented, it warned. Strict hygiene and isolation controls were essential.
The IVA said one of the eight outbreaks in the North was within 1km of the Border and recommended vaccination for all poultry within 10 km of this danger area. It urged poultry producers to take part in the voluntary vaccination programme announced by the Government on Monday.
"If the industry and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland propose a total vaccination policy in the North, as this is a 32-county industry we must follow suit."
Another outbreak of the disease was discovered in the North yesterday near Randalstown, Co Antrim. A 10-km exclusion zone was also placed around the farm to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease. So far more than 545,000 birds have been killed in Northern Ireland as a result of the disease.
Farmers and poultry processors, following consultation with the Department, have agreed a voluntary vaccination programme to protect the North's poultry industry which is worth £140 million annually. The Department believes the total voluntary programme could be completed over the next seven to eight days.
A spokesman for the Republic's Department of Agriculture said no cases of the disease had been found in the State yet. It said the vaccine had arrived and would be distributed today. The vaccinc, to be used in spray form, will be available on prescription only on the advice of the producer's veterinary surgeon.
Mr Eddie Keane, of the Irish Farmers Association's poultry growers committee, said sensible, sound flock security allied to strategic vaccination was probably the combination most likely to minimise risk to those in the southern poultry industry. "Strategic vaccination of breeding and laying flocks in certain locations could be worthwhile as a precautionary measure, but this must be supplemented with good flock management and sound disease avoidance measures.
He said vaccination was not the panacea to solve all potential problems and EU member-states did not adopt a consistent policy to deal with Newcastle Disease. "IFA advises all flock owners to implement the hygiene protocol sent to all southern processors by the Department for distribution toe poultry growers as a matter of urgency. These guidelines will greatly reduce the chances of contacting or spreading the virus."