An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) has been confirmed in a commercial turkey flock in County Carlow, the Department of Agriculture has announced.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said restriction zones have been established around the affected holding, including a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone.

“This outbreak is a reminder to us all of the importance of robust biosecurity,” Mr Heydon said. “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 H5N1 strain has been circulating widely in wild birds across Ireland over the past year and recently caused an outbreak in a captive bird flock in Cork. More than 40 cases have been detected in wild birds so far this year. Similar outbreaks have been reported across Europe and in the UK.

Health authorities have stressed that the risk to humans remains very low. The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the European Centre for Disease Control both advise that while the virus is highly contagious among birds, it poses little threat to public health.

The Department of Agriculture has urged all flock owners to stay alert for signs of disease and to maintain strict biosecurity measures. Suspicious cases should be reported to the nearest Regional Veterinary Office or to the National Disease Emergency Hotline at 01 492 8026 outside business hours.

Compulsory biosecurity measures for all poultry and captive bird keepers came into effect on 1 November. These include enhanced requirements for flocks of 350 birds or more.

Further information and reporting tools are available on the Government website at www.gov.ie/birdflu.

Meanwhile, authorities in Northern Ireland have imposed disease control measures after a suspected case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was reported at a commercial poultry farm near Pomeroy, Co Tyrone.

The Chief Veterinary Officer, Brian Dooher, said the decision was based on clinical signs at the farm and preliminary results from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute.

Minister of Agriculture Andrew Muir confirmed the suspected case was reported on Saturday 1 November. He said initial results suggested the presence of the disease and the CVO had ordered the humane culling of all poultry on the premises. Temporary Control Zones have also been introduced to prevent further spread.