Fears rise after second case of bird flu

Poultry farmers are being urged to have a "laser-like focus" on biosecurity across the country after a second case of avian flu was identified on a turkey farm in Meath.

On Wednesday evening Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon confirmed the latest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in a commercial turkey flock near Kells. Restriction zones have been established around the affected holding, comprising of a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone in line with national and EU legislation. This follows confirmation of the disease in a flock in Co Carlow on Tuesday.

The Minister had already announced a mandatory housing order for all poultry and captive birds, effective from Monday, November 10. These Regulations also include a ban on gatherings of birds from different premises to protect the birds from the risk of infection e.g. shows, fairs, sales.

Reacting to the news, IFA Poultry Chair Nigel Sweetnam said: “Flock owners must work to guarantee the tightest controls are in place. The housing order takes effect from next Monday, but producers should house their birds now and take the necessary steps to protect their birds.

“This latest case comes after confirmation of avian flu on a farm in Carlow yesterday. It’s a very concerning development and devastating for the farm,” he said.

Nigel Sweetnam said producers should go through their biosecurity protocols in detail and ensure there are no gaps anywhere. Housing the birds is an additional protection, but effective biosecurity protocols that minimise the risk are our number one defence.

“The risk is so high that only controls that are strictly implemented and managed robustly will work in the fight to limit the spread of avian flu,” he concluded.

Minister Heydon said: “This second outbreak underlines the ongoing presence of avian influenza in wild birds across the country. The introduction of the housing order will further strengthen our national protection measures to help mitigate the ongoing risk. I want to thank poultry keepers for their continued cooperation and strong commitment to maintaining the highest standards of biosecurity during this high-risk period. Working together and following strict biosecurity procedures is the strongest defence to reduce the risk and safeguard our poultry sector.”

The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSE-HPSC) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) advise that the risk to public health from the strain of Avian Influenza that is circulating is very low. However, members of the public are, as always, advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report sick or dead wild birds to the Department’s avian check app (AvianCheck).