French authorities have yet to confirm whether the duck, which was found near Lyons in the east of France, had the deadly H5N1 strain but it is virtually certain to be the case. If so, it is further proof that the killer disease is slowly spreading from the Far Eastern countries, where it first broke out last year, west towards the UK and Ireland.

To date, the disease has caused 91 deaths in humans, mainly in Far Eastern countries. It has been confined to those who had direct contact with infected birds. So far, the virus has not mutated and no human has caught it from another person.

But the agriculture spokesman added that it was still "too early" to take on the huge task of ordering flock owners to take their birds indoors. If there is an outbreak in the UK, which is still free of the disease, then housing poultry will obviously become a more serious and immediate issue, he said.

In the event that housing of poultry becomes necessary then the issue of the status of organic poultry farmers will be dealt with at the time, he said. However, this will be a secondary issue, he added, given that the main task will be to limit the spread of the virus.

The expert group set up by agriculture minister Mary Coughlan to advise on bird 'flu control will have its first meeting this week and the housing of poultry will top its agenda. The 11-person group is headed by Professor Michael Monaghan, who successfully limited the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001.

Eight thousand flock owners have registered with the department. Of those, 1,100 are commercial flock owners, who form the backbone of the 800m poultry industry in Ireland. Over 7,000 own small flocks, which they keep around the farmyard. It is these which will be more difficult to monitor in the event of an outbreak.

Under legislation introduced late last year, all poultry flock owners are legally required to register with the department. The idea of the register is that in the event of an outbreak in a flock of poultry, the department will be quickly able to identify neighbouring flocks, which will have to be culled.

The spokesman said the department was happy with the response from flock owners so far, although he acknowledged that some owners have yet to register and reminded them that it is a legal requirement.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Department of Health has confirmed that 30,000 seasonal 'flu jabs have been offered to poultry farmers and workers in the Cavan/Monaghan area . . . the heart of the poultry industry in Ireland.

This was just a precautionary measure, the spokesman said. While the seasonal, or winter, 'flu and avian 'flu are different, he explained, the fear is that if a person already has the contagious winter 'flu, and then is infected with avian 'flu from a bird, then the avian 'flu strain could 'piggy back' on the seasonal 'flu strain and transfer directly to other humans. This mutation would trigger the much-feared 'flu pandemic.

The health spokesman said the department was satisfied with the take-up of the 'flu vaccine in the Cavan/Monaghan region, which is now almost complete.