Irish farmers told to house flocks due to bird flu

Image source, Getty Images

At a glance
  • All farmed birds must be kept indoors from Monday
  • T锘縣e move follows detections of avian flu in captive and wild birds
  • A similar order is issued to farmers in England

P锘縪ultry farmers in the Republic of Ireland have been ordered to keep their flocks indoors amid outbreaks of bird flu.

T锘縣e latest case of bird flu was confirmed in a dead swan in County Cavan.

T锘縣e order follows a similar move in England with both set to take effect from Monday.

F锘縜rmers are being urged to maintain strict biosecurity measures around their flocks.

T锘縣ere have been detections of avian flu across the island of Ireland in recent months.

An outbreak of H5NI avian flu was confirmed in a captive flock in County Wicklow in late August, the second confirmed outbreak in the region in a matter of days,聽

T锘縣e most recent case in Northern Ireland was found in captive birds at the Castle Espie Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre in County Down.

T锘縣e Irish agriculture department said there was no evidence that there was a risk to the public associated with eating properly prepared and cooked poultry products.

A锘縰thorities said the risk of infection in humans was very low.

T锘縣e Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said it would not be implementing a housing order due to lower rates of infection.

A锘 spokesperson said there had been a only one avian influenza detection in captive birds this season and a "relatively small number" of positive wild birds.

However, Northern Ireland remains under bird flu prevention zone restriction.

T锘縣e public is being urged not to handle dead or wild birds and report sick or dead wild birds to the relevant authorities.