Animal Diseases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

Ceisteanna (904)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

904. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outbreaks of avian influenza in the State by year in each of the years 2012 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16607/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The information requested by the Deputy is being collated and will be returned within 10 days.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question 16607/22 in which the Deputy requested the number of outbreaks of avian influenza in the State by year in each of the years 2012 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. The Deputy will recall, it was not possible to provide a response to the Deputy in the required timeframe and I undertook to contact him again on the matter.

As the Deputy is aware Ireland is currently in the high-risk period (October to April) for the introduction of Avian Influenza (AI) as a result of the migration of wild birds returning to overwinter from areas where AI is widespread. There are two main categories of AI depending on the severity of the clinical signs induced:

1. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

2. Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI)

AI is defined in EU Animal Health Law and in the OIE Terrestrial code for the purposes of notification, control and eradication. All HPAI viruses are notifiable. LPAI viruses are not notifiable. This season Highly Pathogenic AI (HPAI) with subtype H5N1 is the predominant virus in circulation across Europe, including Ireland where there were 6 outbreaks in commercial poultry flocks in Counties Cavan and Monaghan. There have also been 80 cases of HPAI H5N1 confirmed in wild birds across 16 counties since November 2021.

The table below outlines the number of outbreaks of HPAI and LPAI that have occurred in Ireland since 2012.

Year	Number of outbreaks of HPAI	Number of outbreaks of LPAI
2012	0	1 outbreak of LPAI H5N2
2013	0	0
2014	0	0
2015	0	0
2016	0	0
2017	0	0
2018	0	0
2019	0	0
2020	1 outbreak of HPAI H5N8	14 LPAI H6N1 1 LPAI H3N8 and LPAI H5N2
2021	6 outbreaks of HPAI H5N1	1 LPAI H6N8
2022	0	0

Department officials are in close contact with industry stakeholders in relation to the strict bio-security measures necessary to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into poultry and captive bird flocks. Flock owners are urged to remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks and report any disease suspicion to their nearest Department Veterinary Office.