Seals could be the next victims of Ireland’s bird flu outbreak, as reports of seal deaths in the UK are on the increase.
There has already been confirmed findings of avian influenza in non-avian wildlife in parts of the UK, with seals the biggest victims.
While there are no known cases of mammals contracting bird flu in Ireland to date, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain has been discovered in sea birds on Irish coasts not far from our seal colonies.
Seal Rescue Ireland, Ireland’s only dedicated seal rescue organisation, is currently monitoring issues around avian flu and its potential impact on seals.
A spokesperson said: “We have followed the recent news about avian flu and we are saddened to read of the devastating impact it has had on species such as the Southern Elephant Seals.
While there is currently no evidence of avian flu affecting seal populations in Ireland, we are monitoring the situation closely and remain in contact with relevant authorities regarding any developments.
Whale Watch West Cork manager Nic Slocum said: “The spread of avian flu and its potential impact on Irish seals is very worrying.”
A spokesperson for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said it is currently undertaking aerial surveys of the country’s grey seal population. They said while data collected so far has not yet been analysed, there are no deaths recorded to date.
They added: “While this is evolving, NPWS will endeavour to record any seal mortalities whilst carrying out the upcoming aerial Grey seal surveys. NPWS also commissioned an aerial thermal-imaging survey of seals in Ireland in August 2024 with no indication of mortality events.”
Concerns around the virus spreading to mammals come as more outbreaks of bird flu have been reported around Ireland. The latest is in a large turkey farm near Kells, Co Meath, where 8,000 birds have had to be culled.
Two other outbreaks have been reported — at a commercial turkey farm in Co Carlow, where 3,000 birds have had to be euthanized, and Cork’s Fota Wildlife Resort. It will remain closed for another three weeks.
Some 12 cases have been found in its greylag goose population. At least 40 wild birds have tested positive this year so far for the HPAI-type of H5N1 strain, which has a high mortality rate.
The outbreak in Carlow is the first of its kind in a commercial flock since 2023 and restriction zones have been put in place around that and the farm in Meath.
Of tested dead carcasses in the UK, 15 grey seal carcasses found in North Norfolk tested positive for (HPAI) H5N5 in February.
One carcass found on the Cornish coast also tested positive for the low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H7N1 strain, which — unlike the HPAI-type of bird flu strain — carries a lower mortality rate among infected animals.
Tests on the North Norfolk grey seal carcasses have, however, shown a mammalian adaptive mutation known as E627K — a significant mutation that dramatically increases the bird flu virus’s ability to replicate in human cells — in one gene (PB2).
However, officials from the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs in the UK have said this mutation has been previously observed in numerous positive samples from mammals detected both in the UK and around the world.
They also stress that, “in isolation”, the mutation is not considered to represent an increase in zoonotic risk of the virus being transferable from birds to humans.
An order, which came into force from November 10 by agriculture minister Martin Heydon has been made that all chickens, turkeys and other poultry are to be either kept indoors or locked in enclosures to prevent the spread of bird flu.
It follows a similar order made in Northern Ireland.