The spectre of bird flu has reared its head again this winter. Already there are reports of cases in the far south of the country and also in the far north. Millions of free range hens and other birds in Great Britain will have to be kept indoors from December 14th because of a virulent strain of avian flu sweeping the country.
Poultry farmers in the Republic have been urged to be on high alert for signs of bird flu from the Department of Agriculture. The department is urging keepers of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys to apply specific biosecurity measures.
The virus is highly contagious between birds and can cause death, and so threatens Irish flocks. It comes following the confirmation of the avian influenza H5N8 in wild birds in a number of counties since early November.
Public health advice is that the risk to human health or food safety from the virus is very low.
