Some 6,100 birds have been culled on a turkey unit in Co Cavan, after Department of Agriculture testing confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu at the premises.

The outbreak occurred just over 5km north of Cavan town and was confirmed on Monday, after a “sudden increased mortality in a commercial turkey flock” was investigated with laboratory testing.

The outbreak is the latest in a series of highly pathogenic bird flu outbreaks over recent months, the most recent of which was confirmed in a turkey flock in Co Laois on 21 November.

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Further outbreaks have been reported in Monaghan, Meath and Carlow.

Measures have been put in place across the poultry sector in a bid to prevent the disease finding its way into flocks, including a housing order in place since 10 November.