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THIS WEEK, A wild duck was found in Co Wexford unable to fly, but alive.
Yesterday it was confirmed that the duck had the H5N8 subtype of bird flu, which had been found in a turkey farm in England the week before.
If you’re wondering why the bird flu is so dangerous, it’s killed hundreds of people – mostly in southeast Asia – since the first outbreak in 2003.
Although there were outbreaks of the bird flu across Britain and Europe in 2014, the virus didn’t reach Ireland, thanks to vigilance of the Department of Agriculture notifying farmers of the movement of the virus.
This year, bird flu fears have been spreading across Europe, the government in the Netherlands to cull 190,000 ducks, and Sweden to put 200,000 hens to death, as well as close some petting zoos.
A 75-year-old man died in Hong Kong of the disease on the 27 December – the first death this winter.
Now, with the discovery in a wild duck known as a wigeon (main picture), the threat of bird flu spreading in Ireland is higher.
Birds transmit the virus to one another by directly contacting bodily fluids such as droppings, or through contaminated water, feed, equipment and human clothing.
If you own a flock of birds, the IFA recommends you look out for the following signs in poultry, as listed by the Irish Farmers Journal:
Although there have been deaths attributed to bird flu, different forms of the virus are less infectious, and less dangerous than others, and the risk to humans is considered to be very low.
There is also no evidence that bird flu can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of properly cooked food such as poultry meat and eggs.
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Fantastic to see – long may the support continue !
We don’t need a gas monitor to know that cancer from radon is killing people….
These are the sort of people that are getting Ireland moving again not moaner and good for nothing keyboard warriors.
It doesn’t take a lot to start a business, the trick is to stay there…
fastest growing economy in europe :)
Is this the second cheerleading article about 1500 jobs between 183 separate enterprises, over the next three years, or am I dreaming?
Im beginning to get sick of this conspiracy rubbish. Its good news. Be happy.
What conspiracy would that be?
Great news… cheer away
It’s the same one, just with some details, still, only another three years of the same announcments to go.
Isn’t that the little girl who was accused of money laundering for HSBC?
A small hotel or venue in the middle of nowhere that only caters for traveller weddings? get in a load of bouncers €10000 a pop and have what? 300 weddings a year.
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