An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in commercial turkey flock in Carlow.
As a result, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has announced restriction zones have been put in place around the farm comprising a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone.
“This outbreak is a reminder to us all of the importance of robust biosecurity. This is why I announced a biosecurity order that took effect last Saturday,” Minister Heydon said.
“Strict biosecurity is the best defence we have against the threat of avian influenza. Thankfully, the disease poses no food safety risk to consumers of well-cooked poultry products, including eggs,” he said.
Wild birds
The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has been circulating widely in wild birds across the country during the past year and which recently caused the outbreak in Fota Wildlife Park’s captive bird flock in Co Cork.
H5N1 has already recently been confirmed in a number of wild birds across the country, with over 40 cases this year to date. Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have also been identified in poultry flocks in several European countries and the United Kingdom this year.
Two cases of bird flu were confirmed in poultry flocks in Fermanagh and Tyrone in recent days.
Public health
Although bird flu can be very contagious between birds, the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the European Centre for Disease Control advise that the risk to public health from the strain of avian influenza that is circulating is very low.
Strict biosecurity is the best defence we have against the threat of avian influenza
Notwithstanding, members of the public are, as always, advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report sick or dead wild birds to the Department’s avian check app.
Biosecurity
The Department continues to urge all flock owners, regardless of flock size, to remain vigilant for signs of disease, implement and maintain strict biosecurity measures, and report any suspicion of disease to their local regional veterinary office or if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026.
The Department said it continues to closely monitor and assess the evolving disease situation and remains in regular contact with industry stakeholders.
Housing order
Shortly before the case was confirmed, the IFA had called for a poultry housing order to be implemented in Ireland following the two cases in Northern Ireland in recent days and the case in Cork.
IFA poultry chair Nigel Sweetnam said that while the Minister introduced enhanced biosecurity regulations at the weekend, the risk level had "clearly intensified".
Read more
IFA calls for poultry housing order following bird flu cases
Bird flu confirmed in poultry flock in Fermanagh
Suspected case of bird flu in Tyrone poultry unit
Cork turkey farmer ‘on tenterhooks’ following bird flu in Fota
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in commercial turkey flock in Carlow.
As a result, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has announced restriction zones have been put in place around the farm comprising a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone.
“This outbreak is a reminder to us all of the importance of robust biosecurity. This is why I announced a biosecurity order that took effect last Saturday,” Minister Heydon said.
“Strict biosecurity is the best defence we have against the threat of avian influenza. Thankfully, the disease poses no food safety risk to consumers of well-cooked poultry products, including eggs,” he said.
Wild birds
The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has been circulating widely in wild birds across the country during the past year and which recently caused the outbreak in Fota Wildlife Park’s captive bird flock in Co Cork.
H5N1 has already recently been confirmed in a number of wild birds across the country, with over 40 cases this year to date. Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have also been identified in poultry flocks in several European countries and the United Kingdom this year.
Two cases of bird flu were confirmed in poultry flocks in Fermanagh and Tyrone in recent days.
Public health
Although bird flu can be very contagious between birds, the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the European Centre for Disease Control advise that the risk to public health from the strain of avian influenza that is circulating is very low.
Strict biosecurity is the best defence we have against the threat of avian influenza
Notwithstanding, members of the public are, as always, advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report sick or dead wild birds to the Department’s avian check app.
Biosecurity
The Department continues to urge all flock owners, regardless of flock size, to remain vigilant for signs of disease, implement and maintain strict biosecurity measures, and report any suspicion of disease to their local regional veterinary office or if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026.
The Department said it continues to closely monitor and assess the evolving disease situation and remains in regular contact with industry stakeholders.
Housing order
Shortly before the case was confirmed, the IFA had called for a poultry housing order to be implemented in Ireland following the two cases in Northern Ireland in recent days and the case in Cork.
IFA poultry chair Nigel Sweetnam said that while the Minister introduced enhanced biosecurity regulations at the weekend, the risk level had "clearly intensified".
Read more
IFA calls for poultry housing order following bird flu cases
Bird flu confirmed in poultry flock in Fermanagh
Suspected case of bird flu in Tyrone poultry unit
Cork turkey farmer ‘on tenterhooks’ following bird flu in Fota
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