80,000 birds to be culled after new avian influenza cases 7 January 2021 | Northern Ireland has experienced its first ever high-path AI incursion in a poultry flock Over 80,000 birds will be culled after highly-pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in a Northern Irish commercial flock, and a second case is under investigation. Northern Ireland’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Dr Robert Huey announced the developments on Thursday (7 January). At the weekend, disease control measures were put in place at a holding in the Clough area of County Antrim after results suggested bird flu in a commercial flock. The National Reference Laboratory has now confirmed that highly pathogenic avian influenza, subtype H5N8, was detected.