The National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) has urged those travelling to areas affected by so-called bird 'flu to avoid contact with animal markets and poultry farms.
The warning comes after confirmation from the World Heatlh Organization of three deaths from the virus in Vietnam.
NDSC specialist in public health medicine Dr Suzanne Cotter said the confirmation of these human cases emphasises the risk of virus transmission from infected poultry. She added that large amounts of the virus are known to be excreted in the droppings of infected birds.
There are no travel restrictions to the countries affected by avian influenza, or bird 'flu, including countries that have also reported cases in humans.
Outbreaks in poultry caused by the H5N1 strain of the virus have been confirmed, to date, in the following countries: Vietnam (July and January 2004); Indonesia (February 2004); Japan (January 2004); Thailand (January 2004); Cambodia (January 2004); China (January 2004); Laos (January 2004); Republic of Korea (December 2003).
Further information is available on www.ndsc.ie