May 20, 2013

Germany's Lower Saxony reports new outbreak of bird flu

A farm in Lower Saxony, Germany has reported a new outbreak of low-pathogenic avian influenza (H7N7).

The veterinary authority sent an Immediate Notification dated May 16 to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The report describes one outbreak of bird flu on a farm at Langförden near Vechta in Lower Saxony. It started on May 15. All 13,000 birds in the flock were destroyed after the sub-clinical infection was confirmed.

The last outbreak of this virus type in Germany was in August 2011.