This is a subscriber-only article
A housing notice for birds has been issued as a precautionary measure against avian influenza by the Department of Agriculture.
It comes after an outbreak of avian influenza H5N8 in a small turkey flock in Co Wicklow and among wild birds in a number of areas across the country.
The measures under the avian influenza (precautionary confinement of birds) regulations 2020 will come into force on Monday 21 December.
Flock keepers will be required to confine all poultry and captive birds in their possession and take other precautionary measures.
The Department said there was increasing risk to all poultry flocks and captive birds, and by extension the poultry industry.
Outbreaks of the highly pathogenic disease have been identified in flocks in the UK and other European countries in recent weeks.
Safety
Although the H5N8 subtype can cause serious disease in poultry and other birds, no human infections with this virus have been reported worldwide and, therefore, the risk to humans is very low.
There is also no evidence of risk associated with consumption of poultry meat or poultry meat products.
Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any such animals to the regional veterinary office or contact the DAFM disease hotline on 1850 200 456.
SHARING OPTIONS: