German farm hit with another avian influenza outbreak
Over 11,000 turkeys culledAbout 11,500 Turkeys have been culled after an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza on a farm in east Germany, Reuters reported, citing German authorities.
The disease was confirmed on a farm in Ostprignitz-Ruppin in the eastern state of Brandenburg, the Brandenburg state health ministry said.
What was believed to be the first case in Germany of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, this autumn was reported on Nov. 22.
Avian influenza, which has led to the culling of hundreds of millions birds in recent years, usually strikes in Europe during autumn and winter. It has recently been detected on farms in several countries including France, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia and Hungary.
To counter the disease, which has disrupted the supply of poultry meat and eggs and sent prices rocketing in parts of the world in recent years, France launched a vaccination campaign against avian influenza in early October.