The avian flu virus has been detected in Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed.

Commenting on the outbreak, Minister Simon Coveney said while it is a serious disease for chicken and duck flocks, concerns for humans getting the disease remain low.

“This is an animal health disease, which normally results in high mortality rates in flocks and its spread is normally controlled by the killing of the affected flocks and the destruction of the carcases,” said Minister Coveney.

“There is no known food safety risk associated with the strain of the disease (H5N8) confirmed in Germany and the Netherlands.

“My Department has a full range of contingency plans in place and should an outbreak occur, measures will be initiated immediately to prevent the spread of the disease,” he concluded.

Patrick Donohoe