PRAGUE: The Czech Republic has taken strict measures to combat a bird flu outbreak, with farmers culling approximately 140,000 birds since the beginning of the year, announced the State Veterinary Administration (SVS) on Wednesday.
The affected birds were found to be carrying the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu, which poses a potential risk of transmission to humans.
According to the SVS, a total of 15 bird flu hotspots have been identified on non-commercial small farms, along with three outbreaks on large commercial farms. Additionally, the disease has been detected in four wild birds outside of farm settings.
The three commercial farms, situated in the central region of the Czech Republic, have been compelled to cull 50,000 ducks and 90,000 chickens in efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Bird Flu Outbreak in Europe
The severity of the situation is underscored by recent reports of bird flu affecting various mammal species, including foxes, otters, minks, sea lions, and grizzly bears. This has raised concerns about the potential increased risk to human health.
Last year, three persons, including a two-year-old girl, succumbed to bird flu in Cambodia, emphasizing the gravity of the disease’s impact on both animals and humans.
The bird flu outbreak has swept across various European countries since August of last year, as reported by data from the French animal health watchdog ESA. In response, French authorities increased the bird flu risk level to “maximum” in December, mandating poultry breeders to confine their birds indoors to minimize exposure.
