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Avian flu. Photo: AFP
PARIS:
A rise in fatal cases of bird flu across Europe has forced more countries to confine millions of poultry indoors to protect flocks from infected wild birds, with Ireland the latest to impose nationwide restrictions.
Highly pathogenic avian flu has killed hundreds of millions of birds in recent years and recently spread to U.S. dairy cows, disrupting supply chains and raising concerns about food prices and possible human transmission.
Ireland confirmed its first outbreak in three years on Wednesday and ordered all poultry housed indoors. “The overall pattern of bird flu is changing,” said Nigel Sweetnam, chairman of the National Poultry Committee of the Irish Farmers’ Association. “This is all very, very worrying.”
France, which culled more than 20 million birds in 2021-22, imposed similar measures last month, followed by Britain on Tuesday. The Netherlands and Belgium acted earlier in October. Fifteen of the 27 EU member states have now recorded agricultural outbreaks this season.
Avian flu usually peaks in autumn with migratory birds, but the 688 outbreaks reported so far – compared to 189 at the same time last year – have raised alarm bells for commercial flocks. Germany remains the most affected country, with 58 outbreaks since August, compared to eight a year earlier.
Media reports say around a million birds were killed. Several German states have imposed housing orders although there is no national mandate. Poland, the EU’s largest poultry producer, comes second with 15 outbreaks but has not ordered a lockdown.
