Bird Flu Outbreak in Denmark: 30,000 Chickens To Be Euthanised Amid H3N8 Spread
The DVFA in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency expects to euthanise the entire flock over the next few days. "The risk of bird flu has decreased, but the disease can still affect a herd, as the outbreak at Augustenborg unfortunately also underlines," said Signe Hvidt-Nielsen, the veterinary director of DVFA.
Copenhagen, April 27: A flock of 30,000 chickens will be euthanised following an outbreak of bird flu in Denmark, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) said. The virus was detected in a large indoor flock of chickens on a farm in Augustenborg, some 188 km southwest of the capital city of Copenhagen, reports Xinhua news agency.
The DVFA in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency expects to euthanise the entire flock over the next few days. "The risk of bird flu has decreased, but the disease can still affect a herd, as the outbreak at Augustenborg unfortunately also underlines," said Signe Hvidt-Nielsen, the veterinary director of DVFA. In accordance with health regulations, the DVFA has set up a restriction zone around the affected chicken flock. Will the Global Bird Flu Outbreak Cause the Next Pandemic?.
Within a radius of 10 km, it is forbidden to move eggs or poultry without special permission from the DVFA, and all poultry owners within the zone are required to register their bird flocks. This is the fourth outbreak of bird flu in Denmark since the start of 2023, according to the DVFA.
A large chicken farm, a turkey farm, and a smaller flock of chickens were affected in January, February, and March. The three outbreaks resulted in the euthanisation of approximately 65,000 birds. Bird Flu Outbreak: What's the Risk That Spread of H5N1 Avian Influenza in US and Worldwide Could Start a Human Pandemic? Four Key Questions Answered Here.
"The current outbreak does not cause us to change our risk assessment, or adjust the requirements that apply to the Danish poultry industry," said the veterinary director. "But we must follow the situation closely, and we are ready to tighten the restrictions for the industry again if the infection pressure and risk increase significantly."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 27, 2023 12:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).