HSE warns of danger of wild birds - Don’t touch sick or dead wild birds - Updated November 2025
- The HSE is reiterating 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.
- Avoiding sick or dead wild birds is especially important during the winter months when the risk of avian influenza becomes higher.
- Sick/dead wild birds can be reported to DAFM via the Avian Check app.
- Seasonal flu vaccine is strongly recommended and free for people with regular close contact with poultry, waterfowl or pigs.
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 reported worldwide, half of whom have died. HPSC undertakes systematic surveillance of all types of influenza. No human cases of avian influenza have been notified to the HSE-Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
Currently the level of avian influenza in wild and captive birds in Europe is increasing, and outbreaks have occurred in Ireland.
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 circulating in wild birds in Ireland, and
- The public are reminded:
- Do not to touch sick or dead wild birds
- Do not touch wild bird feathers or droppings
- Avoid contact with surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings
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.
The HSE works in cooperation with DAFM to investigate avian influenza incidents. People who come into contact with infected birds during outbreaks on farms and people who pick up or handle sick or dead wild birds that are found to be infected with avian influenza 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.
The flu vaccine is strongly recommended and free for people with regular close contact with poultry, waterfowl or pigs.
Further information on avian influenza is available from:
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Bird Flu
Avian Check app