Samples taken from captive birds that died at Fota Wildlife Park in Cork have tested positive for avian influenza, or bird flu, it has been confirmed.
Following a report from a vet at the park to the Department of Agriculture, samples from a number of captive birds that had died at Fota were tested for the bird flu virus in the department's veterinary laboratory in Backweston, Co Kildare.
Preliminary test results are positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus, and further testing will be carried out tomorrow to determine pathogenicity.
It is understood the positive cases were from three dead geese and a fourth sick goose that were part of a flock of 20 at the park.
A veterinary epidemiological investigation is being carried out on site in Fota, and the results of this will inform decisions on the management of this situation.
Once the investigation is complete, a risk assessment will be carried out in relation to bird flu and either a protection zone of 3km or an exclusion zone of 10km could be implemented at the site.
Fota Wildlife Park is closed to the public until further notice.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said the detection of bird flu in captive birds at Fota "highlights the ongoing risk posed by avian influenza and is a reminder to all who keep poultry, whether commercial holdings or those who have some backyard hens, to stay aware and take precautions to prevent contact with or contamination from wild birds".
The news of bird flu in a captive flock at Fota follows confirmation last month from Cork City Council that several cases of bird flu were detected at The Lough Bird Sanctuary.
At the time, the Department of Agriculture said low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses were isolated from mallards in the Lough, which were submitted to the Department's Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Cork for testing.
The HSE and HPSC have advised that the risk to public health from the strain of avian influenza currently circulating (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza subtype H5N1) is considered low for the general public, and low to medium for occupationally exposed people.
No outbreaks of bird flu were detected in commercial poultry flocks in Ireland last year or so far in 2025, however, 41 wild birds have tested positive for the disease here so far this year.
Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead wild birds to their regional veterinary office or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026 or use the Department of Agriculture's 'Avian Check' app.
