HEALTH chiefs have warned of the danger of touching sick or dead wild birds – over risks of bird flu.
In recent weeks, groups of dead wild sea birds have been discovered off the west coast of Ireland.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said avian influenza is a type of influenza that mainly affects wild birds and poultry.
But it can also occasionally infect some mammals and humans.
Officials at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine warned of the disease today.
They said: “Avian Influenza Bird flu is circulating in sea birds.
“Do not pick up or touch sick or dead wild birds, and keep your pets away from them.
“If you find a sick or dead wild bird, you can report it using the Avian Influenza Wild Bird reporting App.”
The HSE is echoing advice from the department “not to touch or handle” any sick or dead wild birds.
While there are many strains of HPAI viruses, the H5N1 virus is considered the “most serious” for both birds and humans.
There have been almost 1,000 human cases of H5N1, half of whom have died, since 2003.
The HSPC said it is “very unusual” for people to catch bird flu but it can happen.
They said: “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.”
HSPC Advice
Why it’s important to prevent people getting H5N1:
- 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
- If a person is infected with HPAI, it could be passed from people to Irish poultry flocks leading to severe disease among birds.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heyden told RTE that flocks of dead birds were discovered in some counties.
He said: “In the past three weeks, there have been a number of reports of groups of dead wild sea birds washing up on shorelines in counties Kerry, Clare and Galway.
“In two instances, a wild sea bird which washed up on a beach tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza virus, with one case in Kerry and one in Galway.”
If a person picks up or handles infected, sick or dead wild birds, they will be monitored for a period of 10 days.
They may be offered antiviral medication and vaccination if they are considered to be at risk.
