The Danish authorities culled 25,000 chickens due to the outbreak of H5N8 avian flu on a chicken farm, said the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
This is the first time avian influenza has been detected in chickens since 2016. It was previously found in various places, especially in Jutland, among wild birds. No human cases of avian influenza have been identified yet.
The poultry population will be destroyed, a 3 km zone will be created around the infected farm, where special restrictions will apply to all poultry flocks, and a 10 km zone will be created where intensive monitoring of wild birds and flocks will be carried out.
“An outbreak of avian influenza in domestic herds is extremely serious for the herd and poses a threat to all poultry owners, as the disease has a high mortality rate,” said veterinarian John Larsen of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
In addition, the authorities have suspended the export of poultry and eggs to countries outside the EU for at least three months . However, trade with the EU countries may continue as before.
Earlier, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen announced about the decision to destroy all mink on fur farms of the country to prevent the spread of the mutated coronavirus. According to the Prime Minister, a mutated infection has been found in minks, which spreads to humans and weakens the ability to form antibodies. Frederiksen warned that a new mutation of the coronavirus could spread not only across the country, but around the world.