Outbreak Of Bird Flu Has Been Confirmed In Carlow Turkey Flock

Tuesday, 4 November 2025 18:30

By Hannah Kelly

All flock owners have been urged to be vigilant for signs of bird flu and to maintain biosecurity measures

Bird flu has been confirmed around a commercial turkey flock in Carlow.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Kildare South TD Martin Heydon announced the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in a commercial turkey flock in Carlow.

As a consequence, restriction zones have been put in place around the holding (a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone).

Minister Heydon said: “This outbreak is a reminder to us all of the importance of robust biosecurity. This is why I announced a biosecurity order that took effect last Saturday. Strict biosecurity is the best defence we have against the threat of avian influenza. Thankfully, the disease poses no food safety risk to consumers of well-cooked poultry products, including eggs.”

The department has said that H5N1 has been confirmed in a number of wild birds across the country, with more than 40 cases so far this year.

Although avian influenza can be very contagious between birds, the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSE-HPSC) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) advise that the risk to public health from the strain of Avian Influenza that is circulating is very low.

Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report sick or dead wild birds to the Department’s avian check app.

All flock owners have been urged to be vigilant for signs of bird flu and to maintain biosecurity measures.