A flock of turkeys at a farm in south Wicklow have been culled to stop the spread of a new bird flu strain.
Up to now H5N8 has only been found in wild birds -- and this free-range flock near Knockananna is the first outbreak on a farm.
Agriculture authorities across Northern Europe have ordered mass culls of tens of thousands of birds since the autumn.
Tim Cullinane, President of the Irish Farmers Association, says poultry keepers must be on guard.
"We have seen the devastating effects that this flu can have, we've seen it on the continent."
" I would appeal again to flock owners, particularly birds that are out and free range, that they'd be fed and watered indoors."
"In the interim, or in the short term it might be safer to keep them in to prevent the spread of this disease."
Turkeys Culled - People Aren't At Risk
Vets are continuing to test samples from the farm near Knockananna.
The Department of Agriculture's imposing controls on the movement of poultry across an 3km area between Hacketstown, Tinaheley and Ballygobban.
Tim Cullinane says there's no danger to humans.
"There's no risk to human health from this flu."
"It's just a serious one, within the population of either chicks or turkeys."
"Absolutely no risk to poultry meat being contaminated by this flu either."
