Irish poultry farms keep bird flu at bay
However, the virus has been detected in wild birds here — which has been the precursor to it appearing in poultry farms, in almost all cases across the EU.
Twelve cases of bird flu have been confirmed by the Department of Agriculture in wild birds, including Munster cases at Nenagh, Co Tipperary, and Midleton, Co Cork.
H5N8 is a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; it spreads rapidly, causing serious bird disease, with high mortality (up to 100% within 48 hours).
But no human infections with this virus have been reported worldwide, and therefore risk to humans is considered to be very low.
In stark contrast, the H7N9 bird flu virus is estimated to have caused at least 100 deaths across China.
Analysts at Rabobank, the leading global agri-bank, have warned that the new global bird flu crisis will force the industry and governments to take new measures against the virus, which will remain endemic in wild bird populations.
Meanwhile, the spread of the H5N8 virus has forced UK authorities to lift the strict disease regulations which, up to Tuesday, required British farmers to keep poultry indoors, in order to avoid picking up infection from wild birds.
The virus has already been confirmed at four UK poultry farms, a commercial game bird farm, and in at least two backyard flocks.
But, faced with a free-range egg shortage for Pancake Tuesday, the British Government’s Chief Vet confirmed a new approach, requiring flock confinement indoors only in higher risk areas.
As a result, from last Tuesday, most British poultry keepers have been allowed the option to let birds outside, whilst still taking reasonable precautions against avian flu.
The relaxation is based on scientific evidence that the risk from wild birds varies, and is highest near large bodies of water where wild waterfowl congregate.
This new approach is seen as the best approach to control disease, protect birds’ welfare, and ensure consumers can buy free range products.
Under EU legislation, eggs and meat from birds which have been housed for more than 12 weeks cannot be marketed as free range.
In Ireland, the requirement to keep poultry indoors continues, and the 12-week “free-range” period will end on March 17.
Poultry farmers in the Netherlands and Germany have already been forced by EU rules to officially downgrade all free range eggs to “barn egg” status in the shops
According to Rabobank analysts, the internal EU poultry products market has not been badly damaged yet by bird flu, with the main trading impact on exporters, attributed to China’s plummeting demand, and China’s restrictions on trade from Europe.
EU farmers say their poultry and egg prices are below the five-year average.
