January 4, 2023

220,000 chickens to be culled in the Czech Republic due to bird flu

Authorities in the Czech Republic are expected to cull up to 220,000 hens at a poultry farm west of the country due to bird flu, The Straits Times reported.

This is biggest bird flu outbreak to date in the Czech Republic.

Bird flu was detected at the farm 150 km west of Prague, after an increase of hen deaths in one of the farm's three halls. The farm can raise up to 750,000 chickens.

The Czech Republic State Veterinary Administration (SVS) said that the majority of the flock could be spared because tests only found the infection in one of the halls.

Petr Majer, a spokesman for SVS, said the entire population of the infected hall will need to be eliminated.

-      The Straits Times