Bird flu is spreading rapidly in Europe early this season. Experts say this is the earliest and widest spread in the last ten years. The disease has been reported in dozens of countries, posing a serious threat to poultry farms and food supply. In 2022, millions of birds were culled in a similar situation.
The disease mainly spreads through migratory wild birds. From August to mid-October, over 50 cases were reported in ten EU countries and the UK. The most affected countries are Poland, Spain, and Germany. Experts warn that the early spread of the virus may make this winter season more severe.
After new cases were detected in Belgium and France, authorities ordered all poultry to be kept indoors. This measure is necessary to limit the spread of the disease. Usually, such measures are applied in winter, but this early spread forced governments to act in advance.
The World Health Organization has stated that the risk to humans is low. However, attention should be paid to possible transmission from animals to people. France has started a vaccination campaign for ducks, considered an important step to control the disease.
Bird flu is also observed outside Europe, in the US, Asia, and other regions. Over 180 million birds were culled in the US, and Brazil has been declared free from the disease.
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