Belgium has detected a case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza ( bird flu ) at a poultry farm in the northwestern part of the country. This was reported by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) on Monday, Reuters reported.
The outbreak, which is the first this season, was detected in Dixmuid, near the border with France. This case led to the death of 95 birds and required the destruction of the remaining flock of 20,100 birds.
Bird flu, which has killed hundreds of millions of birds in past years, usually spreads in Europe in the fall and winter. Recently, cases of infection have been detected on farms in many of Belgium’s neighboring countries, including France, the Netherlands and Germany.
The EU Food Safety Authority reported that the bird flu epidemic in Europe at the end of 2021-2022 was the worst ever monitored.