Risk of avian flu low, says Coughlan

THE risk of avian flu occurring in Ireland is low, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan has declared, following recent cases in the Czech Republic, Germany and France.

She said she had asked the National Parks and Wildlife Service and BirdWatch Ireland to undertake a risk assessment.

Having regard to the species of migratory birds considered to pose the greatest risk of introducing avian flu to Ireland, the risk assessment had concluded that most are considered to pose little or no risk at present.