It was recently announced Ireland has officially been awarded Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (HPAI)-free status. The World Organisation for Animal Health has published Ireland’s self-declaration of freedom from HPAI in poultry on its website, with an effective date of January 1, 2026. Agriculture minister Martin Heydon commended all involved in regaining disease freedom: “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. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has not been detected in Ireland in wild birds or domestic poultry in 2026 (to date).
