Dead swans and a duck taken from The Lough in Cork sparking bird flu concerns 

Two dead swans and a dead duck were removed from The Lough in Cork city over the weekend, sparking renewed fears about an outbreak of Avian Flu. 

Arrangements have been made for the remains to be transported to a Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine laboratory for testing to confirm the presence or otherwise of bird flu. 

A Cork City Council spokesperson said it will take at last 10 days before the results of these tests are formally confirmed.

“In the meantime, biosecurity measures which were introduced at the Lough in September following the first confirmed case of bird flu there, remain in place.

“People visiting The Lough are still being advised to avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds. A temporary ban on fishing there remains in place, and the bird feeder remains out of action," said the spokesperson.

“Cork City Council would like to thank people for their continued cooperation during this bird flu outbreak.” 

The last confirmed positive test for bird flu at The Lough was on September 21.

The highly pathogenic 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.