November 8, 2007

Newcastle disease hits Estonia's biggest poultry farm

Estonia's largest poultry firm AS Tallegg began slaughtering 237,000 chickens Wednesday (November 7) after an outbreak of Newcastle disease, which is highly contagious for birds but poses no risk for humans.

The operation at the company's farm near Tallinn also involves the destruction of 1.65 million eggs, officials said.

AS Tallegg said its stock was insured. In addition, Estonia's Veterinary and Food Board said the state would pay the company EUR1 million in compensation.

Tallegg said it expected its egg production to be back to normal by the end of next summer.

The company has already decided to vaccinate all its new egg-laying chickens in future against Newcastle disease.

"The eggs produced by infected chickens are not a health risk for people who eat them," said Teet Soorm, head of Tallegg's board.

The destruction of chickens and eggs in farms where the Newcastle disease has been found is obligatory under European Union rules.

The outbreak of the virus was confirmed on Monday after tests carried out in the UK at the request of Estonian health authorities turned out positive.

Newcastle disease has occurred in several EU member states in recent years - there was an outbreak in southern Estonia in July - as well as other east European countries such as Ukraine.