Turkeys Culled After Outbreak Of New Bird Flu Strain

Up to now H5N8 has only been found in wild birds.

A flock of turkeys at a farm in south Wicklow have been culled to stop the spread of a new bird flu strain. 

Up to now H5N8 has only been found in wild birds - and this 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. 

Toomervara's Tim Cullinan - president of the Irish Farmers' Association, says poultry keepers must be on guard:

Vets are continuing to test samples from the farm near Knockananna. 

The Department of Agriculture is imposing controls on the movement of poultry across a 3km area between Hacketstown, Tinahely and Ballygobban. 

But Mr. Cullinan says there's no danger to humans:

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