Bulgaria reports fifth bird flu outbreak at industrial farm

cde.news desk 24 April 2021, 09:00 · 1 min read

epa08213296 The chickens of poultry farmer Theo Bos in the stable in Barneveld, The Netherlands, 12 February 2020. Commercial poultry farmers must keep their chickens indoors for the time being after bird flu was discovered in Bretzfeld, Germany. EPA-EFE/ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN

Bulgarian veterinary authorities will cull 40,000 laying hens in the southeastern village of Krivo Pole after a bird flu outbreak was confirmed at an industrial farm there, the fifth since the start of the year, the food safety agency said.

The agency said the farm had been hit by highly pathogenic avian influenza type A, but did not disclose the strain of the disease.

The predominant strain in Europe at present is H5N8.

Some 160,000 ducks and 154,000 hens have been culled at four other farms in the Balkan country since February as authorities try to contain the spread of the disease.

Photo: EPA-EFE/ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN