Overview: Bird Flu Detected in Captive Birds at Fota Wildlife Park
Samples from captive birds that died at Fota Wildlife Park in Cork have tested positive for avian influenza, with preliminary results indicating the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. The findings underscore ongoing concerns about avian influenza in Ireland, affecting both wildlife and people who work with birds. The Department of Agriculture is coordinating a veterinary response, and plans are in motion to implement risk-based measures to prevent further spread.
The initial tests were carried out after a veterinarian at the park reported the deaths to the Department. Carcass samples were sent to the department’s veterinary laboratory in Backweston, Co. Kildare, for analysis. While confirmation of H5N1 is a critical step, authorities say further testing will determine pathogenicity and inform the appropriate response. In the interim, public access to the park has been temporarily restricted as a precautionary measure.
What We Know About the Case
According to the latest updates, the positive results pertain to three dead geese and a fourth goose that was ill, all part of a flock of about 20 at Fota Wildlife Park. The park has not reported any poultry outbreaks; rather, these cases involve captive birds kept on site, highlighting that avian influenza can spread in controlled settings as well as in the wild. Zoological facilities often maintain higher densities of birds, which can accelerate transmission when the virus is present in the environment.
Ongoing Epidemiological Investigation
A veterinary epidemiological investigation is underway on site to trace the source of infection and to evaluate biosecurity practices across the park. Authorities will review bird holdings, movement logs, adjacent wildlife, and potential contact points with wild birds. The outcome of this investigation will guide the risk assessment and inform decisions on site-specific management, including any required zones around the park.
Potential Management Zones and Public Health Implications
Due to avian influenza, authorities may establish a protection zone of 3 kilometers or an exclusion zone of 10 kilometers around the affected area, depending on the results of the risk assessment. Such zones are designed to minimize contact between domestic and wild birds and to reduce the chance of disease spread. Fota Wildlife Park remains closed to the public until further notice, with reopening contingent on control measures and ongoing assessments.
Public health bodies, including the HSE and HPSC, emphasize that the current H5N1 strain poses a low risk to the general public and a low-to-medium risk to those with occupational exposure. The guidance remains clear: avoid handling sick or dead wild birds and report sightings to the regional veterinary office or the National Disease Emergency Hotline if outside hours. The Department of Agriculture’s Avian Check app is also available for reporting and guidance.
Context Within Ireland’s Avian Influenza Situation
The confirmation at Fota follows other recent avian influenza activity in Ireland, including detections at The Lough Bird Sanctuary in Cork City earlier this year. Officials stress that, while there were no outbreaks in commercial poultry last year and so far in 2025, wild birds have tested positive in several instances this year—an indicator of the virus’s spread between wild and captive birds. Continuous surveillance is essential to protect both wildlife and poultry industries and to shield consumers from potential spillover risks.
Messages from Officials and Next Steps
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon highlighted the incident as a reminder of the ongoing risk posed by avian influenza and urged poultry keepers—whether commercial operations or backyard flocks—to implement strict biosecurity practices. The Department continues to work with park management, veterinary services, and public health authorities to determine the best course of action, including containment measures and communication with the public.
As investigations progress, updates will be provided by the Department of Agriculture, with the aim of keeping people informed while ensuring that risk to humans remains minimal and that wildlife health is safeguarded.
