A second case of bird flu has been confirmed in a flock in Co Monaghan. The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in a broiler flock in a farm in Co Monaghan, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine told the Irish Examiner. The first case also was in Monaghan where the virus was confirmed in turkey flock in a farm.
Officials confirmed traces of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 had been found in the flock, which is understood to have included up to 30,000 birds. But the department declined to say how many birds were affected.
“The department is currently engaged in the depopulation of the flock to reduce the risk of spread in what is high-density poultry area.” A department spokesman said.
“In addition, the department has been working to mitigate the risk of spread of the disease through the establishment of a 10km restriction zone to control the movement of poultry and poultry products to and from restriction zone around the restricted holding and where additional surveillance measures have been put in place.” They added.
The department is urging the farmers and pet owners to keep their birds from accessing outside birds or flocks in the area.
The virus, which is known colloquially as bird flu, has the potential to wipe out whole flocks within 48 hours and circulates naturally in wild birds in continental Europe. However no human infection of the virus has ever been confirmed in Europe.