Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 12/20/16


The toll on wild and farmed poultry from outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is growing this month as authorities in Asian and European nations try to protect unaffected flocks. Meanwhile, United Kingdom officials are responding to the first reports of H5N8 from the European mainland.

Here are the most recent developments since the first outbreaks were confirmed in early November:

Japan: The prefectural government in Hokkaido reported the area’s first case of the H5 strain of HPAI and began culling 210,000 chickens at a poultry farm following the deaths of 30 birds from the virus, according to Japan’s national daily The Mainichi. Japan has already culled about 570,000 chickens in two other prefectures since last month, the paper reported.

The Netherlands: Officials confirmed an outbreak of H5N8 HPAI at an egg farms in the northern part of the country, prompting the culling of 28,500 laying hens at a farm in Hiaure, according to a report in the Dutch News. An estimated 200,000 ducks and 100,000 hens have been culled so far and biosecurity measures are in place to prevent the spread of the disease that so far has affected six poultry companies.

South Korea: Authorities estimate that a record 16 million birds have been culled after a series of HPAI outbreaks, representing about 20 percent of the nation’s poultry population, according to Channel NewsAsia. Officials are concerned about the lack of manpower to manage the culling and sanitizing procedures even though the Korean military has been enlisted to assist in the biosecurity efforts designed to fight the H5N6 strain that has been confirmed.

Germany: Another 30,000 turkeys and ducks were culled over this past weekend following the discovery of the H5N8 strain of HPAI at two additional farms. German officials have launched more stringent biosecurity rules to stem the spread of the virus strain. About 540 wild birds were infected with HPAI last month, but few farm-raised birds were affected at the time, according to Reuters.

United Kingdom: Concerns about the spread of HPAI in several U.K. nations were heightened following the confirmation of an H5N8 outbreak among turkeys at a farm in Lincolnshire, according to several local reports. Regulations launched earlier this month to restrict the movement of poultry remains in place in England, Scotland and Wales, according to Public Health England. And the threats of arrest and imprisonment are still being enforced weeks after launch to stop the movement of poultry and eggs in the United Kingdom.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.