Ireland: Bird flu H5N8 discovered in wild duck in Co Wexford

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/irela...ford-1.2921504


Bird flu discovered in wild duck in Co Wexford
Department of Agriculture confirms virus has been found but says risk to humans very low
about 3 hours ago
Mark Hilliard

A confirmed case of avian bird flu has been detected in Co Wexford following a number of recent discoveries in Europe.

The Department of Agriculture said the influenza subtype H5N8 was found in a wild duck known as a ?wigeon? on Wednesday, December 28th. The bird was found alive but unable to fly.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has said although the H5N8 subtype can cause serious disease in poultry and other birds, no human infections of the virus have been reported anywhere. The risk to humans is ?considered to be very low?, it said.

The discovery comes after the Department of Agriculture took the unprecedented step this month of ordering farmers to move their poultry indoors...

[Pathfinder]

Department Confirms Avian Influenza H5N8 in a Wild Bird in County Wexford

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine today announced that it has confirmed avian influenza subtype H5N8 in a wild bird in County Wexford. The wild duck – a wigeon - was found alive but unable to fly in Wexford Town on 28 December.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has confirmed that although the H5N8 subtype can cause serious disease in poultry and other birds, no human infections with this virus have been reported world-wide and therefore risk to humans is considered to be very low.

The finding is not unexpected given the detection of highly pathogenic H5N8 in wild birds in Great Britain in the last two weeks, and comes one week after the Minister introduced regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 requiring the compulsory housing of poultry as a result of the increased threat.

Further tests are being carried out to determine whether the virus is the same highly pathogenic strain that is currently present in Great Britain and mainland Europe. The results of these tests will not be available until the middle of next week.

The Department reiterates that strict bio-security measures are necessary to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into poultry and captive bird flocks.

Flock owners should remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks, and report any disease suspicion to their nearest Department Veterinary Office.

Further information:
Further information on avian influenza can be found here:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/avian_influenza/birdflunews
Advice on handling dead wild birds can be found here:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/avian_influenza/importsexports/measurestoreducetheriskofintroductionofavianinflue nza
A list of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine offices and their contact details is available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/contact/

To view this content as a pdf click here: DAFMPR 205/2016 (pdf 184Kb)
Date Released: 30 December 2016

https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/press...104771,en.html

[Pathfinder]

Strain of bird flu found in Ireland still unconfirmed
...
about 2 hours ago Updated: about an hour ago
Rachel Flaherty

The Department of Agriculture said the influenza subtype H5N8 was found in a wild duck known as a ?wigeon? on December 28th.

The bird was found alive but unable to fly.

The department said further tests were being carried out to find out if the virus is the same as highly pathogenic strain currently present in Britain and mainland Europe.

A spokeswoman said on Thursday the results of these tests have not come back yet.

? Further tests are now required to determine whether the virus is the same strain as that in GB and mainland Europe but it is likely to be the same strain,? she said.
...

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/strain-of-bird-flu-found-in-ireland-still-unconfirmed-1.2926443

[Pathfinder]

Confirmed Europe/Ireland/Wexford
National
Wexford / Lat.: 52.3342, Long.: -6.4575
28/12/2016
30/12/2016
Influenza - Avian
H5N8 LPAI 1 wild, unspecified bird Geocoords. Quality: Centroid Locality

http://empres-i.fao.org/eipws3g/

[Pathfinder]

Department confirms highly pathogenic strain of 'bird flu' in Ireland

Ciaran Moran

PUBLISHED
09/01/2017 | 19:19

It has been confirmed by the Department of Agriculture that the avian influenza subtype H5N8 detected in the wild bird found in County Wexford on December 28, is the highly pathogenic strain that has previously been confirmed in the UK and mainland Europe.

The bird, a widgeon, was found alive but unable to fly in Wexford town. This is the only case detected in Ireland so far.

As previously advised, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has confirmed that the risk to humans is considered to be 'very low'.

The Department says it is continuing to monitor the situation and notes the deteriorating weather forecast for continental Europe this week.
...

http://www.independent.ie/business/farming/agri-business/department-confirms-highly-pathogenic-strain-of-bird-flu-in-ireland-35354600.html

[Pathfinder]

Department Confirms HPAI Subtype In The Wild Bird Found In County Wexford

The Department today announced that it has confirmed that the avian influenza subtype H5N8 detected in the wild bird found in County Wexford on 28 December, is the highly pathogenic strain that has previously been confirmed in the UK and mainland Europe. This is the only case detected in Ireland so far.

As previously advised, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has confirmed that the risk to humans is considered to be very low. The Department continues to monitor the situation and notes the deteriorating weather forecast for continental Europe this week. The Department reiterates once again the requirement to confine poultry and other birds, and to apply strict bio-security measures to prevent the introduction of avian influenza. Poultry flock owners should remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks, and report any disease suspicion to their nearest Department Veterinary Office. Further information:

Further information on avian influenza, including guidance for hunters, can be found here:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/avian_...a/birdflunews/

Advice on handling dead wild birds can be found here:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/avian_...vianinfluenza/

A list of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine offices and their contact details is available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/contact/

Date Released: 10 January 2017

https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/press...104965,en.html