Bird Flu Outbreak Confirmed in Northern Ireland: Tyrone Flock Affected

A new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed in a poultry flock near Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Disease control measures are now in effect, including the humane culling of all poultry on the affected premises and the establishment of temporary control zones.

Suspect Case and Initial Response

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) initially reported a suspect case on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 . Preliminary results from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) suggested the presence of HPAI, prompting the Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland, Brian Dooher, to initiate disease control measures as a precaution .

Control Zones and Culling

A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) was established around the affected premises on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 . The TCZ comprises two zones, TCZ-A spanning 3km and TCZ-B spanning 10km . As a precautionary measure, all poultry on the site are being humanely culled to mitigate the spread of the disease .

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone Remains in Place

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) for all of Northern Ireland remains in place, having been introduced in early November. This legally requires all poultry and captive bird keepers to house their flocks or keep them separate from wild birds . A ban on gatherings of galliforme, anseriforme, and poultry is also currently in force.

UK-Wide Context and Vaccine Trials

This outbreak marks the fifth confirmed case of bird flu in Northern Ireland since October 2025, contributing to a total of 97 cases across the UK this outbreak season . The UK government has recently begun vaccine trials to tackle the disease, with annual outbreaks costing the government and industry up to £174 million each year .

Further Information

Full details regarding the scope and measures within the Temporary Control Zones are available on the DAERA website. Samples from the infected premises have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory for confirmation of the strain and pathogenicity. Should HPAI be officially confirmed, the TCZs will be replaced with a 3-kilometer Protection Zone (PZ) and a 10-kilometer Surveillance Zone (SZ) .