The Daily Star Ireland
Initial tests for avian influenza at a poultry farm in north Monaghan have returned negative results. Samples were collected from the site near the border amid concerns of a potential outbreak. While these initial findings are reassuring, further testing is scheduled to confirm the absence of the virus.
The Department of Agriculture recently implemented a housing order for all poultry and captive birds, effective from Monday, as a precautionary measure due to the heightened risk of bird flu. A similar directive is in place in Northern Ireland. Since December, five cases of avian influenza have been identified in wild birds across the country; however, no infections have been reported in commercial poultry operations to date.
In a related incident last week, a suspected case of bird flu was detected at a commercial poultry farm in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. As a precaution, approximately 64,000 birds were culled to prevent potential spread. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has established disease control measures and is awaiting laboratory confirmation of the virus.
While avian influenza poses a minimal risk to human health, and poultry products such as chicken and eggs remain safe for consumption, the public is advised to exercise caution. Individuals who encounter dead or visibly ill birds are urged not to handle them but to report the sightings immediately via the National Disease Emergency Hotline at 01 492 8026.
