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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NI farmers on high bird flu alert | NI farmers on high bird flu alert |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| NI poultry farmers are being told to be extra vigilant following a bird flu outbreak in the east of England. | NI poultry farmers are being told to be extra vigilant following a bird flu outbreak in the east of England. |
| The H5N1 strain can be fatal if passed on to humans but experts said the outbreak in Suffolk was being contained and posed little danger to people. | The H5N1 strain can be fatal if passed on to humans but experts said the outbreak in Suffolk was being contained and posed little danger to people. |
| The Department of Agriculture says it has "robust plans" in place in the event of any outbreak in N Ireland. | The Department of Agriculture says it has "robust plans" in place in the event of any outbreak in N Ireland. |
| The Ulster Farmers Union urged poultry keepers to ensure good bio-security measures are in place. | The Ulster Farmers Union urged poultry keepers to ensure good bio-security measures are in place. |
| UFU President Kenneth Sharkey said: "The best way to contain and eradicate this outbreak is to be extremely vigilant and deal with any incidents as quickly as possible. | UFU President Kenneth Sharkey said: "The best way to contain and eradicate this outbreak is to be extremely vigilant and deal with any incidents as quickly as possible. |
| "Poultry keepers should watch their birds very closely." | "Poultry keepers should watch their birds very closely." |
| The Department of Agriculture said it was "continuing to liaise closely with DEFRA and the Department of Agriculture and Food in Southern Ireland to monitor the situation". | The Department of Agriculture said it was "continuing to liaise closely with DEFRA and the Department of Agriculture and Food in Southern Ireland to monitor the situation". |
| It said a veterinary risk assessment was being carried out and surveillance of wild birds in Northern Ireland was ongoing. | It said a veterinary risk assessment was being carried out and surveillance of wild birds in Northern Ireland was ongoing. |
| The department emphasised that avian flu is not a food safety risk. | The department emphasised that avian flu is not a food safety risk. |
| Earlier on Saturday, the avian flu which killed 2,600 turkeys at a Suffolk farm was confirmed as the H5N1 virus. | Earlier on Saturday, the avian flu which killed 2,600 turkeys at a Suffolk farm was confirmed as the H5N1 virus. |
| Anxious time | Anxious time |
| BBC Northern Ireland rural affairs correspondent Martin Cassidy said it was an anxious time for the local poultry industry but government vets in Northern Ireland were well prepared. | BBC Northern Ireland rural affairs correspondent Martin Cassidy said it was an anxious time for the local poultry industry but government vets in Northern Ireland were well prepared. |
| "Wild bird populations on both sides of the border are being monitored and poultry farmers are being urged to be particularly vigilant and report any sudden drop in egg production, sickness or higher than normal mortality," he said. | "Wild bird populations on both sides of the border are being monitored and poultry farmers are being urged to be particularly vigilant and report any sudden drop in egg production, sickness or higher than normal mortality," he said. |
| "Free-range producers are also being advised to minimise contact with wild birds. No decision has been made yet but clearly government will now consider whether it is prudent to order at-risk flocks to be housed. | |
| "Government is stressing that avian flu is a disease of birds and not humans, it is rare for people to become infected and that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk." | "Government is stressing that avian flu is a disease of birds and not humans, it is rare for people to become infected and that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk." |