Case of bird flu confirmed in Donegal

A case of bird flu has been detected in a wild bird in Donegal.

Since early December there have been three detections of avian influenza in Ireland, all in wild birds.

After detections in Galway and Dublin, another case has been confirmed at an undisclosed location in Donegal.

It is said that the case was discovered in “mid-January”.

In December, Minister for Agriculture and Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue introduced new strict biosecurity regulations for poultry.

The Department of Agriculture said in a statement: "With six instances of avian influenza in wild birds on the island since early December, it is clear that the virus is circulating in some wild birds in Ireland and that the highest standards of biosecurity are needed to protect Irish poultry and kept birds.

"The Department carries out year-round surveillance for avian influenza in poultry and also tests a selection of wild birds in order to understand the level of risk to Irish poultry, working closely with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

"This helps to inform risk mitigation actions to protect poultry, such as the introduction of the biosecurity regulations in December.”

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An emergency hotline and an Avian Check Bird App have been set up.

A “spokesperson added: The Department does not collect and test every dead wild bird reported; rather, a selection are tested to provide an understanding of the level of virus circulation and to aid early detection of risk."