Don’t Touch Dead or Sick Birds.

Seriously, that’s all you need to know.

“Ooh, mommy, so sad – a dead bird. Look!” I did stop and look. I’m no bird expert – but it did seem to be a tiny fledgling that had fallen from the nest above it. I reminded my boys not to touch the bird.

Why stop to double check a dead bird? Why advise my boys not to touch it?

H5N1 HPAI virus (avian flu) is circulating in Ireland.

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and HSE are asking the public:

1. Not to touch or handle sick or dead wild birds.

2. Report sick/dead wild birds. There is an app or you can do it quickly on your website.

Warning: one part of the form asks you what kind of bird it is. However, it seems to accept amateur answers like mine “not sure, tiny and brown”

Why do doctors care? The risk is very low, and it is really rare but virus has been known to infect humans. There have been over 1000 cases over the years during other outbreaks, half of which were fatal though this current strain seems less fatal. There are around 20 human cases so far in 2025. For farmers and vets: this virus has been known to pass to poultry, and though fare more rare, has been detected in sheep (UK) and cattle (US). (source: ECDC)

For more information, go to:

@hpscireland website – Avian Influenza

There is in-depth information, updated 17/7/25 on the gov.ie website for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Bird Flu