Poultry Farmers Asked To Curb Spread Of Bird Flu After Culling Of Wicklow Turkey Flock

Flock keepers and farmers with poultry are being asked to take extra measures to curb the spread of bird flu and to keep their flocks in secure buildings so they can't come into contact with wild birds or other animals and to apply bio-security measures.

It comes after the culling of a small flock of turkeys in County Wicklow last week that had been identified with the virus.

Up to now H5N8 has only been found in wild birds -- and the free-range flock near Knockananna is the first outbreak on a farm.

Agriculture authorities across Northern Europe have ordered mass culls of tens of thousands of birds since the autumn.