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Cork City Council Issues Bird Flu Confirmation and Advisory for The Lough Bird Sanctuary

23/09/2025

People visiting The Lough amenity in Cork city have been advised to avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds they might find there following confirmation of a number of cases of avian influenza at the wildfowl sanctuary.

 

A temporary ban on fishing has been introduced at the amenity and its bird feeder has been decommissioned temporarily, as a precaution.

 

Highly pathogenic Avian Influenza HPAI (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, is currently circulating in wild birds, and has been detected following tests on a number of birds which were found dead at The Lough.

 

The following advice is being issued to anyone visiting the area on the city’s southside:

 

  • Do not touch sick or dead wild birds, and do not handle bird feathers found in the area;
  • Do not to bring sick wild birds home;
  • Keep pets away from sick and dead wild birds - dogs should be kept on a leash where sick or dead wild birds are present.

Bird flu or avian influenza is a viral disease which affects the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous system of many species of wild birds and poultry.

It is highly contagious amongst birds and it is a notifiable animal disease.

 

It can also pose a threat to people and other animals in certain circumstances, but these types of infections are rare.

It is very unusual for people to catch bird flu.

 

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has responsibly for avian influenza testing in Ireland.

The Lough is managed by Cork City Council.

 

The city council and the Cork Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) are providing expert advice to the DAFM in relation to the bird flu cases in wild birds at the Lough, and they are undertaking intensive monitoring and surveillance of the birds present there. 

 

Agreed protocols are in place to ensure the swift removal of sick or dead birds from the area.

 

However, the avian influenza virus can survive for several weeks in the environment because the faeces of infected birds contains a high level of virus – an area can remain infective irrespective of whether bird carcasses are removed from an area or not.

 

The public can and should report any sick or dead birds to the city council, or to the DAFM via the local regional veterinary office by using the Avian Check Wild Bird App https://aviancheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/, or by contacting the National Disease Emergency Hotline 01 492 8026 (outside office hours).

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