December 11, 2007

Poland to cull 110,000 chickens after flu outbreak

Polish veterinary authorities on Sunday (December 9, 2007) announced the slaughter of 110,000 chickens in the central Zuromin region, a day after a third bird flu outbreak at a farm.

"Thirty thousand chickens at the farm were infected and 80,000 others in nearby farms will be culled during the course of the day," Ewa Lech, the head of Poland's veterinary services, told a news conference on Sunday.

A 10-kilometer (six-mile) sanitary cordon has been set up around the farm after bird flu was confirmed there Saturday.

The highly pathogenic strain H5N1 of bird flu was first detected on two turkey farms in central Poland on December 1. Bird flu was found last year in the country, but in wild birds.

Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus have suspended imports of live chickens from Poland.

Polish Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki said Saturday's outbreak at a third farm in a region where poultry farms abound could pose "serious economic problems."

"We are prepared to compensate the farmers 100 per cent," he said.