An avian flu outbreak has been identified at an egg farm in Barneveld with around 30,000 chickens, reported economics ministry of Netherlands. However, it is likely to be a low risk H7 strain, informed Ducth officials.
As a precautionary measure all the 30,000 birds were culled over fears that the H7 form can mutate into a highly pathogenic strain. Authorities have imposed a 3-week ban on transporting poultry within 1-kilometre radius around the farm. About 17 other poultry farms in the vicinity are being tested for the virus.
Bird Flu
Bird flu (avian influenza/avian flu) is a disease caused by an influenza virus (H5N1) that primarily affects birds but can infect humans also.
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Several Dutch farms were hit by a bird flu outbreak of the highly infectious H5N8 strain in November and December last year.
Source: Medindia
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