虽然，英国北爱尔兰自治区并未出现禽流感疫情，但当地有关部门仍然不敢有丝毫懈怠。为了防控禽流感传播，该自治区日前禁止当地的家禽市场继续营业。

    据法新社11月6日报道，北爱尔兰自治区首席兽医官伯蒂·休斯顿日前表示，虽然到目前为止，对该地区野生鸟类进行的所有检查结果都显示，尚未发现高致命性禽流感病毒，但当地有关部门仍然十分小心谨慎。他说，“涉及鸟类的集市、市场和其它一些有关的集会都将被取缔，有农业部门颁发的特别许可证的除外”。

    休斯顿还表示，尽管在其它一些候鸟迁徙所途经的地区，禽流感病毒对世界的威胁似乎呈上升趋势，但禽流感被迅速传入的整体威胁仍然保持在一个较低的水平。

    Northern Ireland has banned poultry markets as a precaution against the spread of avian flu to the province.

    "Although the global risk seems to be increasing in some other flyways, the overall risk of an imminent introduction of avian influenza does remain low," said Bertie Houston, chief veterinary officer said Friday.

    He said all checks on wild birds had been negative so far but authorities were taking no chances.

    "Birds, fairs, markets and other gatherings are to be cancelled, except under special licence to be issued by the department of agriculture," he said.