As bird flu continues to spread in Thailand following fresh outbreaks in Vietnam and China, Irish people returning from Asia have been asked to contact Department of Agriculture officials on arrival at ports and airports.
The deadly virus has now spread to 15 of Thailand's 76 provinces since the first recurrence just over a week ago.
Officials said they were also awaiting laboratory tests on suspected cases of the H5N1 virus in eight districts of Bangkok.
The virus killed 16 Vietnamese and eight Thais who came in contact with infected fowl earlier this year.
A Department of Agriculture and Food spokesman said yesterday that trade restrictions imposed by the EU remained in place. "However, we would ask Irish people returning from holidays or work trips from Asia to report to the Department of Agriculture officials at airports and ports, especially if they had any contact with fowl."
There have been no reports of anyone in China, Vietnam or Thailand falling ill from bird flu in the latest outbreaks. However, the Thai government has ordering officials to rush to hospital anyone showing symptoms which resemble those of bird flu.
Officials in China and Vietnam said their outbreaks had been contained, and no new cases had been reported.