December 5, 2023

Bird flu outbreak hits poultry farm in Belgium, near French border

Belgium has reported the first outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, in the current season, KELO-TV reported.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) revealed that the outbreak occurred on a poultry farm in Diksmuide, located in the north-western part of the country, near the French border.

The detected outbreak resulted in the death of 95 birds, prompting authorities to take swift action by slaughtering the entire flock, which comprised 20,100 poultry. This development marks the onset of bird flu concerns in the region for the current season.

Bird flu, a contagious viral infection, has historically led to the culling of hundreds of millions of birds, typically occurring in Europe during the autumn and winter months. Recent detections have been noted on farms in several of Belgium's neighbouring countries, including France, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as part of preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus and protect the poultry industry from further impact.

-      KELO-TV