Poultry farmers have called for all free-range birds to be housed following confirmation of the first case of avian flu in Ireland this year.

On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture confirmed that a white-tailed sea eagle, found dead on 31 January in Co Tipperary, died of avian influenza subtype H5N6. While the risk to public health is low, poultry farmers will be on high alert after the finding.

IFA poultry chair Andrew Boylan told the Irish Farmers Journal that it had met with the Department to express concern over the discovery.

“We would like to see all free-range birds housed indoors until the threat of avian influenza dissipates,” Boylan stated.

“The Department is monitoring the situation and contacting stakeholders, including the Department in Northern Ireland, because whatever measures are put in place will be an all-island response.

“Last year, Ireland was the only country in the EU that had a positive case of avian influenza in the wild bird population without a corresponding outbreak in the commercial poultry sector.”

Poultry owners, including owners with small domestic flocks, are advised to feed and water their own flock in areas where wild birds cannot gain access in order to minimise the risk of infection.

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Calls to house free-range poultry in face of bird flu threat

The Department has confirmed that a wild bird was confirmed to have bird flu in Tipperary.