UUP MEP says Govt proposals on Bird Flu are welcome news for Poultry Industry
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has described Government proposals unveiled this week for monitoring migratory birds in order to prevent an outbreak of bird flu as “welcome news for the Province’s poultry industry.”
DEFRA’s new policy will involve sampling for the disease in areas which have higher numbers of migrating waterfowl and larger poultry populations.
Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,
“It is imperative that poultry farmers are aware of the flight paths that birds will take so they can take simple precautions to protect their stocks. If we can keep bird flu out of our poultry, we can keep it away from humans.
“It seems inevitable that some of the birds migrating back to the UK will carry some form of low-pathogenic bird flu and this autumn will be the biggest test of the UK and EU’s preparedness.”
“The proposals that went through the European Parliament last year allow Europe to respond more effectively if and when there is an outbreak here. We have improved warning systems and surveillance of low-pathogenic bird flu but work to develop cost-effective oral vaccines for poultry will take some time. In the meantime, we must all be more vigilant.
“If an outbreak of Avian Flu were to break out in Northern Ireland it would spell disaster for the Province’s poultry industry, which is of immense importance to Northern Ireland and we must never forget the potential public health implications.
“Lead government departments must keep their risk assessment and Avian Influenza contingency plans under constant review and updated as further information becomes available and should consider establishing a special cross departmental unit to deal with the Province’s response to any outbreak.”