Confirmation of the bird flu in Suffolk led to extra security yesterday on poultry farms in the Republic's northeast. This was especially so in north Monaghan, where most of Ireland's broiler-chick industry is located.
Precautions have also been increased at turkey production centres in the Cavan/Monaghan area, and fresh notices are warning against unauthorised vehicles or visitors going to farms. Disinfectant-soaked mats have also been replaced at entrances.
Some producers have claimed that additional precautions are not really necessary because of the high level of the disease-preventative measures already in place.
Strict precautions have been in operation for years at Silverhill duck farm near Emyvale, Co Monaghan, where there is a major duck processing industry. Similar precautions have been observed at Broomfield Turkeys.
One large north Monaghan poultry producer said yesterday: "The proximity of this area to the North has led to all local producers being over-conscious of the need for extra measures to prevent any disease."
He added that most poultry units were protected from outdoor wild-bird infection as birds were reared and finished indoors.
An IFA regional spokesperson said in Monaghan yesterday: "There is, of course, concern here whenever anything like this happens, even in England, but everybody is happy about the level of precautions which have been maintained on Border farms."