Bird flu infection identified in wild falcon in Co Galway

A case of bird flu has been detected in a wild peregrine falcon found in Oranmore, Co Galway, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed.

The department confirmed it had detected a “highly pathogenic avian influenza”, subtype H5N1, in the bird following tests.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said that while the specific bird flu subtype could cause serious disease in birds, "human infection is extremely rare".

There were no known cases of the virus being reported in humans in Europe to date this year, the department said.

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The peregrine falcon was sent to the Limerick Regional Veterinary Laboratory to be tested, as part of the department’s bird flu surveillance programme.

“Highly pathogenic H5N1 has been confirmed in wild birds, poultry and captive birds in Great Britain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia, Poland and Denmark since mid-October,” the department said in a statement.

October to April is generally seen as the most high-risk period for cases of bird flu being introduced into Ireland, due to wild birds returning over the winter from other countries where the virus is widespread.

A department spokesman said wild birds “act as main reservoirs of avian influenza viruses”.

Officials were in “close contact” with industry groups, and urged farmers that “strict bio-security measures” were needed to prevent bird flu spreading into poultry and captive bird flocks.

“Flock owners should remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks and report any disease suspicion to their nearest Department Veterinary Office,” the spokesman said.