Since a wild swan died of the H5N8 strain of the virus in Hungary in late October, the outbreak has spread to other central European countries in recent days. A Hungarian turkey farm was infected on 4 November, the same day dead wild birds were diagnosed with the disease in Poland, European animal health authorities have reported.

More cases were identified in Germany and Croatia on Tuesday and Wednesday. Around one hundred dead birds found on Lake Constance, which borders Germany, Switzerland and Austria tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.

French surveillance

Fearing a westward spread of the virus, the French department of agriculture increased surveillance measures on Thursday, calling on vets and poultry farmers to check for signs of influenza and on members of the public to report dead wild birds. Higher mortality, lower eating or drinking rates and a fall in egg production are all potential symptoms of an outbreak.

France had already placed restrictions on bird movements earlier this year following an outbreak of a different strain of the virus in its southwestern high-value poultry farming region.

All farmers must ensure their facilities are as secure as possible

In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) called on keepers of bird flocks of all sizes to make sure they are registered and observe high standards of biosecurity. “While there are no issues for food safety, avian influenza is a serious, notifiable disease for farmers,” UFU poultry chair Tom Forgrave said in a statement on Friday.

“All farmers must ensure their facilities are as secure as possible, given the threat this potentially devastating disease poses to an industry vital to the local economy.”

Fordgrave added that poultry farmers should have plans for emergency measures such as housing and separation of birds if required.

The H5N8 avian flu strain was first identified in China in 2010 and has spread through Asia ever since. It infected 11 European farms two years ago, including in the UK. It is unclear whether the current European outbreak was caused by migratory or imported birds.

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