A case of avian influenza has been confirmed on a commercial turkey farm in Co Monaghan.
The latest case comes after two last week in Meath and in Carlow.
The latest detection is in a flock near Clontibret and it’s understood the farm is a significant operation, with thousands of turkeys.
A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone are in place around the site.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has confirmed a further outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in a commercial turkey flock near Clontibret, Co. Monaghan.
Restriction zones have been established around the affected holding, comprising of a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone in line with national and EU legislation.
This follows two outbreaks last week, in turkey flocks in Co Meath and Co Carlow.
This development follows the Minister’s implementation of a mandatory housing order for all poultry and captive birds, which took effect on Monday 10th November.
These Regulations also include a ban on gatherings of birds from different premises to protect the birds from the risk of infection e.g. shows, fairs, sales.
Minister Heydon said: “This third outbreak underlines the ongoing risk to poultry and captive birds of avian influenza. We know the virus is circulating in wild birds across the country. The compulsory poultry biosecurity regulations and housing order, which I have introduced, will help to mitigate the ongoing risk, but a strict and meticulous attention to biosecurity by all those who keep poultry or captive birds is the best way to protect our flocks from further outbreaks during this very challenging higher risk winter period.
“I want to express my sympathies to the flock owners who have been affected by these outbreaks, and to thank poultry keepers nationally for their continued cooperation and strong commitment to maintaining the highest standards of biosecurity.”
The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSE-HPSC) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) advise that the risk to public health from the strain of Avian Influenza that is circulating is very low. Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report sick or dead wild birds to the Department’s avian check app (AvianCheck).
The Department reminds all flock owners, regardless of the flock size, to:
- Comply fully with the housing and biosecurity regulations
- Remain vigilant for sign of disease, and
- Report any suspicions of avian influenza to their local regional veterinary office, or if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026
- Any unregistered poultry flocks, even small backyard ones, must register with the Department.
