An order for poultry flock owners to house their birds due to a rising number of bird flu cases in wild birds has come into force.
Poultry keepers have been urged to maintain vigilance and strict biosecurity measures around their flocks, with avian flu circulating among wild seabirds in recent weeks.
An outbreak of HPAI H5NI was confirmed in a captive flock in Co Wicklow late last month, in what was the second confirmed outbreak in the region within a matter of days. An outbreak was also recorded in Sutton in Co Dublin last month.
The Department of Agriculture has said there is no evidence of a risk to people associated with the consumption of poultry or poultry products and properly cooked poultry products, including meat and eggs.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has also said that although the H5N1 subtype can cause serious disease in poultry and other birds, the risk of infection to humans is considered to be very low.
It has urged members of the public not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report sick or dead wild birds to the Regional Veterinary Office or notify the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through its Avian Influenza Wild Bird App.
An early warning system watching for signs of disease in wild birds is in place with Birdwatch Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Association of Regional Game Councils.
Mr McConalogue said the order was being issued earlier than on previous occasions in order to protect the poultry flock.
He also said turkey farmers above all others will be taking the order very seriously ahead of Christmas.
Christmas is the peak of the year for turkey production, he said, and turkey flock owners were aware of the risk an outbreak would pose to their animals and income.
