Suspected bird flu shuts Fota Wildlife Park for two days

Fota Wildlife Park in East Cork will be closed to the public today and tomorrow due to suspected bird flu.

It comes just weeks after an outbreak was confirmed in wild birds at The Lough in Cork city.

A statement from Fota Wildlife Park last night said the suspected avian influenza had been reported to the Government, and that the park would not reopen to the public until Thursday.

“Following a report from Fota Wildlife Park to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding suspected cases of avian influenza [bird flu], public access to the wildlife park will be suspended on Tuesday, October 14, and Wednesday, October 15, inclusive.”

Members of the public were advised to avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds when an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed at The Lough late last month, after a number of cases were detected following tests on dead birds.

Avian Influenza HPAI (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, is highly contagious amongst birds, affecting the respiratory, digestive, and/or nervous systems of many species of wild birds and poultry.

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