Ireland stays free of bird flu but awaits further test results
Officials have confirmed that bird flu has not reached Ireland amidst heightened fears yesterday that the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus had spread from Scotland.
Authorities in the North said last night that dead swans found in Antrim and Down had tested negative for the dangerous type of the virus.
Test results are expected later today on a number of dead birds that were found near the border as experts stay on alert for an outbreak.
The Government has also confirmed that calls to the bird flu helpline rose by 60%, going from nearly 20 calls a day to 100 day following confirmation of the virus in Scotland.
The Minister for Agriculture, who called a meeting of the expert group on avian flu yesterday, said no further control measures were needed at this time.
The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste also said yesterday that we are well equipped to deal with any outbreak of the virus. Bertie Ahern said we are better prepared to deal with this threat than we were for the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001.
Meanwhile, tests are continuing on more dead birds found in Scotland, where so far only one swan has been confirmed as having the deadly H5N1 strain.
A wild bird risk zone, covering around 1,000 square miles, has been put in place in Fife.
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