Ireland confirms sixth case of bird flu

A sixth case of avian influenza H5N8 was confirmed on Saturday in a whooper swan in Nenagh, central Ireland's County Tipperary, according to an official statement.

In a statement, the Irish Department of Agriculture said it is the fourth case in a whooper swan this year.

It followed three previous cases in whooper swans this year, with two cases in Eurasian wigeons in December last year.

In December, Ireland confirmed the first case of avian influenza H5N8 in a wigeon in the southeastern county of Wexford.

Although 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.

The finding was not unexpected given the detection of highly pathogenic H5N8 in wild birds in Britain in December.

Since then, the Irish Department of Agriculture has introduced regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, requiring the compulsory housing of poultry as a result of the increased threat.

The government reiterated that strict bio-security measures are necessary to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into poultry and captive bird flocks.

source: Xinhua