The H5N8 strain of avian influenza has been confirmed in a grey heron in Middleton, Co Cork, and in a mute swan in Lough Eorna, Co Tipperary.

Both birds were found dead on 3 February and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) confirmed the presence of H5N8 in both cases on Friday (10 February).

This is the eighth case of bird flu and Ireland, however, two most recent cases on Friday are the first to be found in birds considered resident species in Ireland.

Previous cases of bird flu found in Tipperary were in the same area as the mute swan found near Lough Eorna, but were whooper swans.

There have also been two cases reported in Northern Ireland. The first was in a wild swan in Derry at the beginning of February and the second was confirmed in a whooper swan in Lough Neagh last weekend.

Across Europe, DAFM reports that there have been 276 outbreaks in poultry, 19 outbreaks in captive birds and 311 mortality events in wild birds since 1 January. Bird flu has been reported in 16 countries in Europe in February.

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