Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1) has hit Irish seabird colonies this breeding season after working rampant via related colonies within the UK earlier this 12 months. The illness, which may infect a variety of chicken species, seems to have hit breeding Gannet colonies significantly arduous.
Gannets, our larges seabird, nest in dense colonies on uninhabited offshore islands numbering tens of 1000’s of birds. Sadly these mass gatherings, with birds crammed in shut proximity, present a really perfect atmosphere for transmission of a virus like H5N1 . There are three essential gannet breeding colonies in Eire: a big colony on Nice Saltee off the Wexford coast, a a lot smaller colony on the Bull Rock off the Beara Peninsula in West Cork and one of many world’s largest Gannet colonies on Little Skellig, off County Kerry, which hosts nearly 30,000 pairs of this iconic seabird every summer season.
Seabirds, wildfowl (geese, geese and swans) and extra
Useless and dying Gannets are being reported from round Irish coasts this 12 months, together with another seabirds like Guillemots and Razorbills in smaller numbers. However it isn’t simply seabirds which might be affected by H5N1 — any chicken that comes into contact with different contaminated birds may catch and carry the illness. Wildfowl (geese, geese and swans) and birds of prey are significantly prone, as are birds like corvids (the crow household) that would come into contact with the illness via scavenging contaminated carcasses.
Thus far there have been no reported circumstances in Eire regarding backyard birds, that are extremely unlikely to return into direct contact with vectors of the illness. The danger posed by feeding your backyard birds is taken into account minimal.
Whereas H5N1 is predominantly an avian illness, and solely spreads simply via chicken populations, some mammals, together with people in very uncommon circumstances, could also be prone to an infection.
What do you have to do for those who discover a sick chicken
Though the danger of the illness passing from a wild chicken to a human host is extraordinarily low, authorities advocate that most of the people keep away from all contact with sick or useless wild birds right now.
- DO NOT TOUCH sick or useless wild chicken
- DO NOT try to assist sick wild birds, carry them residence, or take them to an animal rescue centre
- DO NOT permit pets to strategy sick or useless wild birds. Preserve canines on a lead in areas the place useless or sick birds are current.
- DO report any useless or sick seabirds, wildfowl (geese, geese or swans), corvids (crows) and birds of prey via the Official Division of Agriculture net portal here.
Alternatively, you possibly can name the Division’s Avian Influenza hotline to report potential circumstances of the illness on 01 6072512 throughout workplace hours or 01 4928026 outdoors workplace hours.
Different Irish Avian Influenza Sources
Under you’ll discover hyperlinks to different Irish Avian Influenza assets on the net — we’ll maintain this record up to date as we uncover related new hyperlinks:
