Dublin City Council issues bird flu warning amid rise in cases

It takes about 3 to 5 days for the first symptoms of bird flu to appear in humans, and feeling hot or shivery, having aching muscles, a headache or a cough or shortness of breath are symptomsBird flu

Dublin City Council has warned the public not to touch or handle sick or dead birds amid an uptick in cases of avian flu.

You should also not let your pets get too close to dead birds. Cases of bird flu in people are extremely rare. It does not spread easily to humans, however DCC have warned that sightings of dead birds should be reported just in case.

A bird flu alert has been released in Ireland, with wild birds increasingly reported as sick or dead. This is especially the case when it comes to seabirds.

They advise:

• Do NOT touch sick or dead birds
• Report sightings via the Avian Check App
• Wash hands thoroughly if accidental contact occurs
• If you develop flu-like symptoms, contact your GP and mention possible exposure

The Department of Agriculture’s Avian Check app allows the public to report the location of sick or dead wild birds to help the Department monitor and control avian influenza.

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed an outbreak of bird flu in a turkey flock in Co Laois this week in a farm with up to 30,000 animals. In an attempt to control the spread of the disease, a mandatory housing order for poultry and captive birds and a ban on gatherings of birds from different holdings was imposed earlier this month.

There have also been reports of outbreaks on poultry farms in Monaghan, Meath and Carlow recently.

The HSE advises that you can get bird flu if you are in close contact with a bird that has it.

Birds were found dead from suspected avian flu on Dollymount beach in 2022(Image: Bull Island Action Group)

Close contact includes:

• touching infected birds that are dead or alive
• touching their poo or bedding
• killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking

The main signs that a bird may have bird flu include:

• sudden death
• swollen head
• closed and runny eyes
• loss of appetite
• difficulty breathing
• diarrhoea
• fewer eggs laid or eggs with watery whites

The main symptoms of bird flu in humans, which is very rare, include:

• a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above
• feeling hot or shivery
• aching muscles
• headache
• a cough or shortness of breath

Other early symptoms may include:

• diarrhoea
• sickness
• stomach pain
• chest pain
• bleeding from the nose and gums
• conjunctivitis

It takes about 3 to 5 days for the first symptoms of bird flu to appear. The spread of bird flu from person to person is very rare.

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