There have been 101 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza reported across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East representing 66 new outbreaks from the beginning of December, figures from the National Farmers Union in Britain indicate.

The most recent outbreaks of H5N8 strain have been reported in Romania, Serbia, Poland, France and Tunisia. Spreading of the disease between farms has been reported in France and Hungary, according to the NFU. Outbreaks of the disease first appeared in Europe in late October.

The World Organisation for Animal Health states that there have been 39 outbreaks of the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of avian influenza in Hungary, 21 in Germany, 17 in Denmark and six in France.

However, there have been no outbreaks of the bird flu strain in Ireland or the UK. England, Scotland and Wales have in place 30-day avian influenza preventive zones, which require poultry keepers and keepers of captive birds to house all birds and improve their biosecurity.

On Tuesday, following a meeting on avian influenza, the Department of Agriculture said that housing birds in the Republic of Ireland is not necessary at this stage. There is no requirement at present to house birds in Northern Ireland either.

“It is important to stress that this is a disease in birds and that there is no risk to human health,” NFU chief poultry adviser Gary Ford has said.