HSE advises public not to touch sick or dead wild birds
The warning follows confirmation from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) that bird flu had been discovered in a backyard flock in Co. Donegal.
There are no trade implications for the Irish poultry industry in relation to this detection, due to the very small size of the flock.
Bird flu is a type of influenza that primarily affects wild birds and poultry, and which can also occasionally infect some mammals and humans.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a type of avian influenza that can cause high levels of illness and deaths in birds.
Of the many strains of HPAI viruses, the H5N1 virus is widely regarded as the most serious for both birds and humans.
Since 2003, there have been nearly 1,000 human cases of H5N1, half of whom have died.
According to the HSE it is "very unusual for people to catch bird flu, but it can happen".
"Currently, it is hard to catch avian influenza from a bird or animal, and there is no evidence that it can be passed between people, but if the virus mutates (changes) this may happen in the future," the executive said.
As the H5N1 HPAI virus is circulating in wild birds in Ireland, the HSE is reiterating the advice issued by DAFM to the public, including:
Do not to touch sick or dead wild birds;
Do not touch wild bird feathers or droppings;
Avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings;
DAFM requests that all sick/dead wild birds are reported via the Avian Check app. While not all dead birds will be collected for testing, reporting is greatly appreciated and provides important information to support surveillance and risk assessment activities.
The HSE added that if a person picks up or handles sick or dead wild birds that are found to be infected with avian influenza, they will be monitored for a period of 10 days.
The person may be offered antiviral medication and vaccination if they are considered to be at risk.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Mixed leaves and spinach among eight products recalled over listeria
Batches of eight spinach, mixed leaves, rocket and lettuce products sold in Irish supermarkets have been recalled due to the detection of listeria monocytogenes. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued alerts for batches of eight different products. The eight products being recalled are: Egan's Irish Baby Spinach, 250g, with best before dates of 30/07/2025, 31/07/2025 and 01/08/2025 and batch code: 206. McCormack Family Farms Lettuce, 200g, with best before dates: 02/08/2025, 03/08//2025, 09/08/2025 and 10/08/2025 and batch codes: 205, 212. McCormack Family Farms Mixed Leaves, 75g, with best before dates: 26/07/2025, 27/07/2025, 29/07/2025, 31/07/2025, 01/08/2025, 02/08/2025 and 03/08/2025 and batch codes: 199, 202, 204, 205, 206, 207. McCormack Family Farms Rocket, 75g, with best before dates: 31/07/2025 and 03/08/2025 and batch codes: 204, 206. McCormack Family Farms Spinach, 100g, 200g and 250g, with best before dates: 01/08/2025, 02/08/2025, 03/08/2025 and 04/08/2025 and batch codes: 205, 206, 207. McCormack Family Farms Energise Mix, 100g, with best before dates: 28/07/2025, 29/07/2025, 30/07/2025 and 03/08/2025 and batch codes: 199, 203, 205. SuperValu Spinach, 250g, with best before dates: 01/08/2025 and 03/08/2025 and a batch code: 206. Tesco Mild Spinach, 350g, with best before date: 02/08/2025 and batch code: 206. The FSAI has requested that retailers remove the implicated products from sale, and display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors are being asked to contact their affected customers and recall the affected products and put a recall notice in place. Caterers who may be in possession of the impacted products have been asked not to use them. Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated products. The FSAI has said there is currently "no evidence that this food recall is linked with the listeriosis outbreak related to ready-to-heat meals that is currently under investigation". The FSAI's latest update follows a recall on Monday of two further spinach products sold in Irish supermarkets with with seven spinach and mixed leaves products having been recalled previously. The authority said that one person with a confirmed case of listeria died, while nine other cases were identified as of late last month. The FSAI said that symptoms of listeria can include mild flu-like symptoms such as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Symptoms can be more severe in rare cases, it added. "Some people are more vulnerable to listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. "The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average three weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days," said the FSAI.
The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Couple walk from Donegal to Leinster House to highlight devastation in Gaza
A COUPLE HAVE reached Leinster House after setting off from Donegal last Friday to highlight the devastating situation in Gaza. Dr Mireille and John Sweeney set off from their home in Ardara, Co Donegal, having felt compelled to take some form of action. Speaking to The Journal , Mireille, who is Jewish and originally from France, explained that she and her husband have been filled with horror watching the events unfold in the Gaza Strip. Mireille, a recently retired GP, has been living in Ireland since 1984. She told The Journal that both her great-grandfathers were rabbis, and her grandfather's extended family were killed in the Holocaust. Advertisement 'I just couldn't cope with the fact that what is happening in Palestine is what the Jewish suffered, and it is Israel who is causing that,' she said. She added that Israel is committing a genocide upon the people of Gaza. 'It's nothing to do about being antisemitic,' she said. 'I am Jewish – and you can't let a genocide happen.' It was John's idea on Thursday that the two should set off on the walk to the capital city the following day. 'We're not walkers,' Mireille said, 'but we just headed off and that was it.' The couple completed the walk themselves, but were often joined by others for parts of the day as they made their way across the country. They arrived in Blanchardstown yesterday and continued on this morning. They were met by a number of groups at Leinster House, including Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine. John hopes that the couple's march to the capital will be replicated and apply pressure upon the Irish government to take further action on the humanitarian crisis within Gaza. Related Reads Gaza mother: 'My children ask for food, and I can give them nothing' Simon Harris says he will try to make a 'national day of protest over Gaza' happen 'Humanitarian city' for Palestinians would be a 'concentration camp', says former Israeli PM As a healthcare professional, Mireille expressed horror at the targeting of medical professionals and aid workers within the territory. When she spoke to The Journal this afternoon, Mireille said that the group were heading towards the French Embassy in Dublin to spread their message further. Today, in a similar fashion, former Clare All-Star hurler Tony Griffin began a 200km walk from his home in Co Kildare to his native Co Clare in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Griffin said that he is undertaking the journey over the next number of days to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Agriland
6 hours ago
- Agriland
Gorman calls for more action amid bluetongue threat
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president Francie Gorman has called for further measures to deal with the threat of bluetongue, including vaccination. Bluetongue is a notifiable exotic viral disease caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) which can cause severe clinical signs in ruminant species, such as cattle, sheep and goats, along with camelids. The virus, which does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, is primarily spread by the bite of infected midges, which are more active in warmer months. Ireland is currently free from the disease, however remains at risk of introduction, as it the virus is present across Europe. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) said its current approach to bluetongue is early detection and eradication, where possible. There are three inactivated vaccines currently available for bluetongue serotype-3 (BTV3) in Europe. DAFM said that all three vaccines claim to reduce the levels of virus in the blood of infected animals and reduce clinical signs of disease. However, the vaccines do not claim to prevent animals from becoming infected. The department said that in the event that bluetongue becomes established in Ireland, "vaccination would become an important tool to minimise production losses". Last month, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) permitted the voluntary use of three BTV-3 vaccines in Northern Ireland, subject to licensing. Francie Gorman claimed that Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and his officials "can and must do more to help farmers offset the impact of BTV 3 should the disease enter this country". He said farmers are playing their part in monitoring livestock for any signs of the disease and reporting any suspicions to their vets and the department. He added that the numbers of suspected cases being reported bears this out. 'It is vital we do everything in our control to prevent this disease entering the country, the trade disruption and potential on farm production losses would impact directly and solely on farmers. 'In refusing to make provision for the option of vaccination to limit the potential losses, the minister for agriculture and his officials are exposing farmers to greater risk than is necessary,' Gorman said. The IFA president said Minister Heydon "should keep an open mind on this approach". He said the minister "must immediately move to approve vaccines for use in this country". "It's not acceptable to hold off until there is an introduction of the disease or an urgent need to vaccinate," he said. IFA Animal Health Committee chair TJ Maher said early detection, containment and eradication of the disease must be the priority. However, he said farmers who want to take precautions to minimise the impact of the disease in their herds should not be prevented from doing so. Maher said the first step in this process is to have vaccines approved for use and a stock of them in the country, and this must be done immediately.
