HSE warns of danger of wild birds - Don’t touch sick or dead wild birds
- The HSE is echoing advice from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) not to touch or handle any sick or dead wild birds, because of the risks of avian influenza.
- Sick/dead wild birds can be reported to DAFM via the Avian Check app.
- Nineteen reported cases of avian influenza in wild birds means that the avian influenza virus is circulating in wild birds and has the potential to cause more wild bird death and illness.
Bird flu or avian influenza is a type of influenza that primarily affects wild birds and poultry, and which can also occasionally infect some mammals and humans. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a type of avian influenza that can cause high levels of illness and deaths in birds. Of the many strains of HPAI viruses, the H5N1 virus is widely regarded as the most serious for both birds and humans. Since 2003, there have been nearly 1,000 human cases of H5N1, half of whom have died.
Wintertime tends to be the time of year with the highest level of avian influenza in birds. Although it is late in the avian influenza season, the infection is still affecting Irish wild birds.
It is very unusual for people to catch bird flu but it can happen. Currently, it is hard to catch avian influenza from a bird or animal, and there is no evidence that it can be passed between people, but if the virus mutates (changes) this may happen in the future. It is therefore important to prevent people getting H5N1, since:
- It can - rarely - produce serious disease in people,
- Mixing of avian influenza and seasonal flu in a person could allow the virus to mutate and become better at spreading between people, and
- If a person is infected with HPAI, it could be passed from people to Irish poultry flocks leading to severe disease among birds.
The HSE is reiterating the advice of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to the public – namely:
- H5N1 HPAI virus is now circulating in wild birds in Ireland, and is now confirmed on both sides of the country, and
- The public are reminded not to touch sick or dead wild birds. DAFM requests that all sick/dead wild birds are reported via the Avian Check app. While not all dead birds will be collected for testing, reporting is greatly appreciated and provides important information to support surveillance and risk assessment activities.
In addition, if a person picks up or handles sick or dead wild birds that are found to be infected with avian influenza, they will be monitored for a period of 10 days and may be offered antiviral medication and vaccination if they are considered to be at risk.
Further information on avian influenza is available from: