Coughlan lifts safety measures for avian flu threat

SAFETY measures introduced by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan nearly two weeks ago following an outbreak of a mild form of avian flu on a farm in Wales have been lifted.

The participation in bird gatherings in Ireland of poultry imported from Britain was banned under the precautionary measures.

Ms Coughlan, whorevoked the measure yesterday, said she was satisfied the Welsh outbreak no longer posed a threat of the introduction of the virus to Ireland and that any risk of an outbreak here remained low.

The ban, introduced in the immediate aftermath of an outbreak of low pathogenic H7N2 avian flu being confirmed near Corwen, north Wales, mirrored a similar measure adopted in the North.

She said her decision yesterday followed the revocation of a ban in Britain on gatherings of ducks and chickens introduced following the outbreak in Wales.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland has also confirmed the revocation of its ban.

There had been fears that poultry purchased at a market in Cumbria on May 7, which had a connection to the outbreak, might have been imported to Ireland.

“From enquiries made, no connections were established between the Cumbria market and the importation of poultry to Ireland,” Ms Coughlan said.