Poultry farmers in Ireland are being warned of the increased risk to poultry flocks from bird flu.
The Agriculture Minister says there have been numerous outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry flocks across Europe.
IFA National Chairman Nigel Sweetnam says farmers need to be on the alert of wild birds flying into this country.
“It comes as a warning to Irish poultry farmers and keepers of domestic fowl,” he said.
“When wild birds return to Ireland, they bring the trace of bird flu with them.
“So, we're ever vigilant for it because the results become catastrophic – but to date our high vigilance and our high levels of biosecurity have paid off."
A number of cases have also been detected in wild birds in Britain, but so far no cases have been found in Ireland.
