Preliminary test results from a commercial poultry farm in Scotstown, Co. Monaghan have come back negative, following a suspected case of avian influenza (bird flu), according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Samples had been taken from the site yesterday (Thursday, February 10) to the laboratory for testing, and further testing will be ran today to confirm the findings. The flock will remain restricted until all test results are confirmed.

The fears of an outbreak in the border county follows on from a confirmed results in Co. Tyrone last week, which led to the culling of 64,000 birds at a commercial poultry premises, according to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Since November 2024, there has been five cases of bird flu confirmed in in Ireland. Cases were confirmed in counties Galway and Dublin in December, and in Donegal, Westmeath, and Wexford during January.

Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) poultry chair Nigel Sweetnam said that the testing is a "stark reminder" to follow the newly introduced compulsory housing order for poultry and captive birds.

Sweetnam said that there are some people ignoring the housing order, "putting everyone's livelihoods at risk".

"I have never seen people so worried, biosecurity should be in everyone's interests and if people have any concern for their own birds, they should keep them locked up," Sweetnam said.

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.

Only essential visitors should be allowed on-farm during this time. Teagasc has recommended that a visitor log book is maintained accurately on the farm, that all visitors are shown the biosecurity plan, and that disposable PPE gear is made available for all visitors.