Bird flu hits Portuguese duck farm near Lisbon
H5N1 outbreak kills over 1,000 birds in flock of 257,000Portugal reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza among farm poultry, Reuters reported, citing the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on Wednesday, as Europe faces a seasonal upturn in the deadly disease.
The spread of avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has raised concerns among governments and the poultry industry after it ravaged flocks around the world in recent years, disrupting supply, fuelling higher food prices and raising the risk of human transmission.
The H5N1 virus was detected in a flock of 257,650 fattening ducks in the town of Samora Correia near Lisbon, causing the death of 1,011 birds, the Paris-based WOAH said, citing a report from the Portuguese authorities.