The Department of Agriculture has confirmed cases of bird flu amongst a flock in north Dublin.
The outbreak is the first amongst non-wild birds to be detected in Ireland this year. Avian flu, which is rarely transmissible to humans, was last detected amongst Irish birds last December.
The bird flock is also not poultry, which is noteworthy as the disease is usually most prevalent in chickens and turkeys. The affected bird flock is located near the coastal area of Sutton.
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The Department of Agriculture confirmed in a statement: “All poultry flock owners should remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks, maintain strict biosecurity measures and report any disease suspicion to their nearest Department Regional Veterinary Office.”
The news coincides with the UK’s largest ever outbreak of avian flu. The Department of Agriculture stated that the flock was a relatively small one. As the disease is not specific to poultry birds, there will be no additional restrictions placed on poultry owners.
The disease had previously been recorded amongst seabirds in Ireland. The majority of the cases occurred in gannets, which travel across many coastal counties. The Department also confirmed that of the 80 birds sent for testing for avian flu since July, there were 61 positive results.
The likelihood of avian flu presenting in humans is rare. H5N8, a strain of the bird flu virus, was detected amongst a small cohort of people in Russia in 2021. The disease usually is transmitted from bird to human through contact with bird droppings or preparing infected poultry for cooking.
The Department of Agriculture urges the public to avoid handling injured or dead birds found in the area. They should instead contact the department directly for further assistance on 01 4928026.
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