Housing order for poultry due to avian flu risk

Five detections of avian influenza infection in wild birds, including one in Westmeath in late January, have prompted the agriculture minister to take action.

Minister Martin Heydon, TD, has announced the introduction of a compulsory housing order for poultry and captive birds, to protect them from the risk of avian influenza. The new rules came into effect on Monday, February 17.

He said: "The risk of avian influenza to our poultry has increased recently. I am taking this action to reduce the threat to our industry and to our poultry farmers’ livelihoods. Poultry and captive birds must be housed from Monday February 17, as that will reduce the opportunity for contact with potentially infected wild birds, which is one of the ways in which the virus can spread.

"Where housing captive birds or poultry is not possible, they must be confined in such a manner that they do not have access to other poultry, other captive birds, or wild birds, for their own benefit."

The minister emphasised the importance of biosecurity, which he said is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry, or between poultry flocks.

"All those who have poultry or kept birds must take strict precautions and exercise the highest standards of biosecurity to protect your flocks from the threat of avian influenza, and to protect the poultry sector in Ireland.

"I have discussed the threat of avian influenza with my counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister Muir, and there has been strong cooperation between our departments on this issue. Minister Muir is introducing a similar order in Northern Ireland."

Strict new biosecurity regulations for poultry were introduced on December 6, 2024 (SI 666/2024, the Avian Influenza (Biosecurity measures) Regulations) in response to the increased risk posed to Irish poultry flocks by the presence of avian influenza virus in wild birds in Ireland.

Since early December, there have been five detections of avian influenza infection in wild birds in Ireland; one in County Galway in early December, one in County Dublin in later December, one in County Donegal in mid-January, and one each in County Westmeath and County Wexford in late January.

Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead wild birds to their regional veterinary office or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026.

The department continues to closely monitor and assess the disease situation and is in regular contact with industry stakeholders and counterparts in Northern Ireland.

• Further information, including a detailed technical update, is available at gov.ie/birdflu.