Ireland is now free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, according to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon.

The minister said that the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Ireland's self-declaration of freedom from the disease on its website, with an effective date of January 1.

Minister Heydon commended everyone involved in regaining disease freedom.

He said: "This publication means that Ireland has regained its status regarding 'Freedom from HPAI'.

"It is a real credit to our poultry industry and my department, and I want to acknowledge the effort involved in reaching this point," the minister added.

"Unfortunately, we're still in the high-risk period and I want to remind all stakeholders to remain vigilant," he said.

Despite Ireland regaining this status, Minister Heydon highlighted the importance of continuing to comply with measures currently in place.

These are the housing order for all captive birds, and the heightened biosecurity controls for poultry farms.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has not been detected in Ireland in wild birds or domestic poultry in 2026 to date.

However, cases continue to be detected across Europe and Britain, so therefore continued vigilance is advised, the Department of Agriculture stressed.

Avian influenza

Five outbreaks of HPAI were confirmed on poultry premises in Ireland during 2025.

Outbreaks were confirmed in turkey fattening flocks in counties Carlow, Meath, Monaghan, Laois and Cavan late last year.

Following disease control measures and surveillance within the restriction zones surrounding the affected premises, all restrictions were lifted as of January 4.

During 2025, 68 wild birds tested positive for avian influenza.

Contact with wild birds and environmental contamination remain "major risks for HPAI incursions", according to the National Disease Control Centre (NDCC) in the Department of Agriculture.

As a result of bird flu, a compulsory housing order was introduced in Ireland for poultry and captive birds on November 10.

Flock keepers are required to continue confining all poultry and captive birds in their possession or under their control in a secure building.