Bird owners ‘should house flocks immediately’ after second avian flu case

Bird owners should take action immediately to protect their flocks after a second case of avian flu was confirmed in Ireland, the chairman of the Irish Farmers’ Association has said.

In a statement, Nigel Sweetnam said: “Flock owners must work to guarantee the tightest controls are in place.”

A housing order is due to come into place in the Republic of Ireland on Monday, meaning keepers must keep their flocks housed in a way that they do not have access to other poultry, captive birds or wild birds.

Similar measures are due to come into force in Northern Ireland on Thursday.

Mr Sweetnam said “producers should house their birds now and take the necessary steps to protect their birds”.

He said there has to be a “laser-like focus” on biosecurity across the country and producers should go through their protocols in detail to “ensure there are no gaps anywhere”.

The warning comes after two separate outbreaks were confirmed on turkey farms this week, one in Carlow on Tuesday and another in Meath on Wednesday.

Mr Sweetnam described the news as “devastating” for the farms involved.

Fota Wildlife Park in Cork has also closed after the disease was detected among its animals.