April 10, 2006

Germany completes culling of 30,000 birds in H5N1 infected poultry farm

30,000 poultry have been culled in Wermsdorf, Germany, where the first case of bird flu was found in a poultry farm. Authorities say the farm and slaughterhouse will be disinfected to ensure safety.

Last week, laboratory tests confirmed bird flu H5N1 infection among poultry in a commercial farm. A three-kilometre exclusion zone was set up around the farm, as well as a 10-kilometre observation area.

This was the first case of a farmed bird being infected with H5N1 in the European Union. In Germany, three pet cats have died of bird flu infection, as well as hundreds of birds.

Meanwhile, the German government has allocated EUR 60 million (US$72 million) for a bird flu research programme.