October 10, 2022

Algeria confirms bird flu outbreak, 35,800 birds killed

The World Organisation for Animal Health said Algeria has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu at a poultry farm north of the country, with 35,800 birds killed due to the virus, The National reported.

The remaining 1,700 birds in the flock at the farm in the district of Medea, south of Algiers have been culled to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Governments and the poultry industry are concerned about the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or "bird flu," due to the devastation it can cause to flocks, the potential for trade restrictions, and the risk of human transmission.

According to a joint review by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the EU reference laboratory, an unprecedented number of outbreaks were reported in wild and domestic birds this summer, causing massive mortality among sea bird breeding colonies on the north Atlantic coast.

Winter and fall are typically the seasons when bird flu outbreaks occur. It is spread through direct contact with contaminated feed, clothing, and equipment or through the faeces of infected migrating wild birds.

-      The National