Kilkenny poultry farmers urged to be on alert amid Bird Flu outbreak

Kilkenny poultry farmers are being told to be on alert after a flock of free range turkeys had to be killed after contracting Avian Influenza.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed the positive tests were discovered in a turkey flock in county Wicklow.

They confirmed the birds have been killed and an avian influenza restriction zones put place consisting of additional protection and surveillance measures.

A department spokesperson said: “As previously notified, highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 has been confirmed in wild birds in a number of counties across the country.

“These findings pose a risk to all poultry flocks and captive birds and by extension the poultry industry. Poultry flock owners should remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks, maintain strict biosecurity measures and report any disease suspicion to their nearest Department Regional Veterinary Office.”

However, the department stressed that risk to humans is low. It added: “The H5N8 subtype can cause serious disease in poultry and other birds, no human infections with this virus have been reported world-wide and therefore risk to humans is considered to be very low.”