TESTS are being carried out on a small number of sea birds found dead on Rathlin Island to determine whether a strain of bird flu was to blame.
Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed the tests were being carried out to see if Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu (HPAI) was the cause of death.
It was reported that the birds were discovered in Church Bay, the main harbour on the island, which sits of the coast of Co Antrim
The HPAI strain, which was first identified last November, is behind the largest ever outbreak of the disease in the north. Its arrival led to the culling of hundreds of thousands of birds across the UK.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said there had been no confirmed cases of bird flu at its West Light Seabird Centre on Rathlin Island.
A spokesman said its staff and volunteers were "following strict protocols and will continue to be vigilant for dead or sick birds, reporting this to DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) as required".
A DAERA spokesman said: "There have been no further cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in poultry in Northern Ireland since early February 2022.
"Since the wild bird survey recommenced in April, two submissions have tested positive for HPAI H5N1. We are also aware of an increase in mortality of seabirds on Rathlin Island.
"Testing is currently being carried out to determine if HPAI has been the cause."
