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- Infected Flock – What to do
- Symptoms in Birds
- Disinfectants for Avian Flu Control
- Disinfection Protocol Guide
- FAQ: Avian Flu Control
Avian Flu Update
Update 4th November 2025
Ireland’s Department of Agriculture has announced a compulsory housing order for all poultry and captive birds starting 10 November, due to the increased threat of avian influenza (bird flu). The move follows the detection of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu in County Carlow, and similar measures will take effect in the UK and Northern Ireland. This follows recent biosecurity regulations introduced earlier this month to protect flocks from infection linked to wild birds.
*Important, please read
If you come across sick or dead wild birds, including ducks, geese, swans, gulls, or birds of prey, do not touch or move them. Instead, report your findings to the Department of Agriculture or through the AvianCheck app (Avian Influenza Wild Bird Reporting App).
What to do if you think your flock may be infected?
Protocols to Prevent and Control Avian Influenza
Currently, there is no direct treatment for avian influenza in birds. Therefore, effective prevention and control rely on Disinfection and Decontamination along with the following key measures:
- Rapid Detection and Reporting
Farms should closely monitor flock health and immediately report any suspected cases of avian flu to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). - Confirmed outbreaks immediately activate strict containment and control measures to prevent further spread of the disease. You should also contact your local Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) or the Avian Influenza Hotline on 01 607 2512 (9 am-6 pm).
- The DAFM also provides an AvianCheck reporting service, where the public can report sightings of sick or dead wild birds directly online.
- Culling and Safe Disposal
Infected flocks are humanely culled to halt the spread of the virus. All carcasses and contaminated materials must be disposed of safely according to government regulations. - Enhanced Biosecurity Practices
Preventing virus introduction remains the most effective defence. Essential biosecurity actions include:
- Controlling access to the farm, including footbaths for visitors and staff
- Ensuring clean clothing and equipment are used within poultry units
- Regularly disinfecting vehicles and frequently touched surfaces
- Securing feed and water sources to prevent contamination by wild birds
- Implementing pest and wild bird control measures to reduce exposure risk
What is Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)?
Avian influenza (AI), commonly known as bird flu, poses a serious and ongoing threat to poultry industries worldwide. Caused by influenza type A viruses, highly pathogenic strains such as H5N1 and H5N8 can cause severe disease and significant mortality in domestic poultry, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. Due to its zoonotic potential (can be transmitted from animals to humans), avian influenza raises global public health concerns.
As Ireland continues to monitor and manage outbreaks across Europe, effective prevention, treatment, and hygiene strategies are critical for controlling the spread of this highly infectious virus. Effective biosecurity measures, particularly the use of disinfectants for avian flu control, are critical in preventing and managing outbreaks within poultry farms. At Biocel, we specialise in formulating and supplying high-performance disinfectants tailored specifically to combat avian influenza viruses and protect poultry health.
Why Avian Influenza is a Global Concern
Economic Impact: AI outbreaks result in costly culling, trade restrictions, and production losses.
Public Health Risk: Although human infections are rare, subtypes H5 and H9 can infect people, necessitating careful monitoring.
Regulatory Reporting: AI is a notifiable disease under WOAH and FAO guidelines, requiring immediate reporting of outbreaks to authorities.
Due to the rapid progression of the disease, early detection and response are critical.
Symptoms in Birds
- Sudden death without signs
- Swollen head, comb, and wattles
- Blue discolouration of the comb and wattles
- Respiratory distress (coughing, sneezing)
- Decreased egg production
- Diarrhoea and loss of appetite
How is it Spread?
- Contact with infected birds (domestic or wild)
- Droppings, feathers, saliva, or secretions
- Contaminated equipment, clothing, vehicles, and feed
- Poor biosecurity practices
Avian Influenza Virus Survival
The virus can survive in the environment, particularly in water and organic material, for extended periods, especially in cooler conditions. In production systems, fluids and faeces contaminate the clothing and footwear of operators, cages, implements, and mechanical equipment for egg collection, amongst others. This route has been considered the principal vehicle for disease dissemination, with influx, making commercial poultry responsible for epidemics registered worldwide.
The persistence of avian influenza viruses in the environment is influenced by various factors, including temperature, humidity, and surface type:
- Survives 24-48 hours on hard, non-porous surfaces (plastic, stainless steel)
- Persists 8-12 hours on porous materials (clothing, paper)
- Can remain viable for over 30 days at 0°C and up to 6 days at 37°C
- Survives up to 200 days in body fluids of infected birds, 35 days in faeces, at low temperatures below 4° C, and up to 5 weeks in infected poultry houses.
- The virus can survive in carcasses, meat, and eggs (especially at low temperatures).
These survival characteristics mean that without rigorous disinfection, avian influenza can spread rapidly through contaminated equipment, footwear, vehicles, and facilities.
Disinfectants for avian flu control play a pivotal role in breaking the infection cycle by effectively inactivating the virus on surfaces and preventing transmission.
Biocel’s Role in Poultry Biosecurity
As specialists in biosecurity, hygiene chemicals, and food-safe disinfection, Biocel supports the poultry sector with:
- High-performance disinfectants with proven efficacy against avian influenza viruses
- Tailored cleaning protocols for hatcheries, broiler houses, and processing plants
- Expert guidance on hygiene best practices to protect animal welfare and public health
All our products comply with relevant biocidal regulations, and many are DEFRA-approved for use during notifiable disease outbreaks.
Disinfectants for Avian Flu Control
Biocel offers several products that can be employed by the poultry industry to disinfect their facilities. These disinfectants, FAM 30 or Interkokask, have a proven efficacy against avian influenza viruses, compatibility with the surfaces to be treated, safety profile, and compliance with regulatory standards.
Our products:
- Demonstrate proven efficacy against avian influenza viruses
- Comply with international regulatory standards (e.g., DEFRA, DAFM)
- They are safe for use in poultry housing and food production environments
- Support comprehensive biosecurity programs by ensuring effective viral inactivation
Fam 30: Targeted Defence for Poultry Farms
- FAM 30 provides broad-spectrum protection with bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal action to support avian flu biosecurity.
- Combines cleaning and disinfection in a single step.
- Remains effective even in the presence of organic matter and at low temperatures.
- Ideal for wheel and foot dips to help control the introduction of avian pathogens.
- Effective on hard surfaces such as walls, floors, and equipment in bird housing.
- Safe for use on feeding and watering systems used in poultry operations.
- Helps reduce disease transmission in aquatic settings, including bird-related fisheries.
- Suitable for aerial application in poultry houses for enhanced environmental control.
Interkokask Concentrate: Powerful Disinfectant for Avian Flu Control
- Penetrates tough outer layers of viruses, including avian flu pathogens..
- Kills immature pathogens in one application.
- Breaks down biofilms that shield avian flu viruses.
- Works at low temperatures (DEFRA-tested at 4°C).
- Effective even with organic matter commonly found in poultry environments is present.
- Ideal for poultry houses, hatcheries, and crates.
- Fights viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mycobacteria.
- DEFRA-approved for key poultry diseases.
- Disinfects surfaces, floors, and bird contact areas.
- Supports strict biosecurity during avian flu outbreaks.
🐔 Which disinfectant Should You Choose?
- Choose FAM 30 for regular cleaning, multi-animal housing, and reliable broad protection against avian flu.
- Choose Interkokask for outbreak response and targeted disinfection in poultry systems where Avian Flu or parasitic threats are a concern.
disinfection protocol Guide
The control of avian influenza outbreaks in poultry facilities hinges on the meticulous implementation of disinfection strategies. Selecting appropriate chemical disinfectants, adhering to recommended concentrations, and ensuring adequate exposure durations are critical components of an effective biosecurity program. By integrating these measures with comprehensive cleaning protocols and environmental management, poultry producers can significantly reduce the risk of avian influenza transmission, safeguarding both animal health and economic interests.
A comprehensive disinfection protocol in a poultry facility should encompass the following steps:
| Application Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Step 1: Preliminary Cleaning | Remove all visible organic matter, such as faeces, feathers, and feed residues, as these can shield the virus from the action of disinfectants. |
| Step 2: Washing | Use detergents like Multicleen with water to wash surfaces thoroughly. Surfactants help remove organic material and disrupt the lipid layers of viruses. |
| Step 3: Rinsing | Rinse all surfaces with clean water to eliminate detergent residues that might neutralise the disinfectant. |
| Step 4: Disinfection | Apply the selected disinfectant at the recommended concentration, ensuring uniform coverage of all surfaces. Maintain the required contact time to achieve effective viral inactivation. |
| Step 5: Drying | Allow surfaces to dry completely before reintroducing poultry, as residual moisture can promote microbial growth. |
Regular training of personnel on the correct preparation and application of disinfectants, as well as the importance of adhering to contact times and concentrations, is vital for the success of these protocols. Always read the label & production information before use.
FAQ: Controlling Avian Flu
The most effective disinfectants are those approved for Avian Influenza, such as Biocel’s range Fam 30 and Interkokask Concentrate. They are powerful, fast-acting, and safe for poultry environments, targeting viruses on surfaces, equipment, and housing areas.
Prevention relies on strict biosecurity, including housing birds indoors during high-risk periods, controlling farm access, disinfecting equipment, and monitoring flocks regularly. Biocel disinfectants are a key part of these protocols.
Disinfection should be done after any flock movement, at regular intervals, and especially during high-risk periods when wild birds are active. Follow Biocel’s recommended schedule for optimal results.
Yes. The virus can survive on shoes, clothing, vehicles, and tools, which is why regular disinfection and hygiene protocols are essential.
All surfaces that birds contact, including housing floors, walls, feeders, drinkers, nesting boxes, and transport crates, should be disinfected with an approved product.
All surfaces that birds contact, including housing floors, walls, feeders, drinkers, nesting boxes, and transport crates, should be disinfected with an approved product.
Strict biosecurity
Housing birds during high-risk periods
Regular cleaning and disinfection with Biocel products
Monitoring flocks for symptoms
Rapid reporting of suspected cases
Need Support with Your Poultry Hygiene Programme?
The fight against avian flu is ongoing. While treatment is limited, vigilance, rapid response, and strict hygiene control remain the most effective tools in protecting our poultry industry and food supply. Biocel remains committed to supporting Irish agriculture and food processors with innovative, safe, and sustainable hygiene solutions.
Get in touch with our technical team to learn more about our avian flu-approved disinfectants and biosecurity solutions:
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