Ireland - Avian influenza in wild birds and poultry - 2020 / 2021

[Gert van der Hoek]

07 Nov 2020

VIGILANCE NEEDED FOLLOWING CONFIRMATION OF CASE OF AVIAN INFLUENZA

Reacting to the confirmation by the Department of Agriculture today, that a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza (bird flu) was detected in a wild bird in Limerick, IFA President Tim Cullinan urged poultry farmers to be particularly vigilant.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Strain of avian influenza found in wild bird in Limerick


A WILD BIRD IN Limerick has a confirmed infection with a subtype of avian influenza, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The department has reported that the wild bird in Limerick has contracted avian influenza subtype H5N8.

The risk to humans from the H5N8 subtype is considered to be very low.



No human infections with the subtype have been reported worldwide.

However, it can cause serious disease in poultry and other birds.

The bird in Limerick, a peregrine falcon, was submitted to the Limerick Regional Veterinary Laboratory under the Department of Agriculture’s wild bird AI surveillance programme.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Bird flu outbreak confirmed in flock of turkeys in Co Wicklow

An outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed in a flock of turkeys in Co Wicklow.

The news was announced in a statement released by the Department of Agriculture on Thursday night.

It confirmed the "location of evidence" of Avian Influenza H5N8 in samples from a small flock of free range turkeys.

The department said that further testing has been carried out, with results expected back in the next few days.

The birds in question have been killed and restriction zones have been put in place, along with more protection and surveillance measures.