ALERT: Third case of bird flu detected in Ireland in just six weeks, department confirms

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a third case of avian influenza infection (bird flu) has been detected in a wild bird, this time in County Donegal. 

This news comes just six weeks after the first case, which occurred on Thursday, December 5 in County Galway, when a buzzard was identified with the illness.

Just under three weeks later, on Friday, December 20, another buzzard, this time deceased, was confirmed to have the virus after being found in Dublin. 

In an update, the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine stated that while no outbreaks of avian influenza have been detected in poultry in Ireland during 2024 or 2025 to date, the confirmation that this virus is circulating in wild birds means that there is an increased threat to Irish poultry of becoming exposed to, and infected with, this disease. 

Across the Irish Sea, during November and December 2024, there were 16 confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry flocks in England. Currently, Ireland is within the higher-risk period for avian influenza.

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Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds of any species, and pet owners are advised to keep dogs on a leash when walking where sick or dead wild birds are, or have been, present.

‘Best practice’ biosecurity measures remain mandatory for all poultry and captive bird keepers since Friday, December 6, 2024.

These are precautionary measures aimed at reducing the risk of transmission of avian influenza to poultry in Ireland.

If you, or someone you know, comes across a sick, or dead, bird, these can be reported here. Alternatively, these can also be reported to your local Regional Veterinary Office, or by calling the DAFM disease hotline number on 01 492 8026. 

Symptoms of bird flu include, but are not limited to: Death/high mortalities in a flock, depression/lethargy, loss of appetite, respiratory distress (gaping beak, coughing, sneezing, gurgling, rattling), swelling and blue discolouration of combs, wattles, neck and throat, gastrointestinal signs (inappetence, diarrhoea), nervous signs, and reduced egg production or no egg production.