Spain To Cull 17,000 Ducks As Bird Flu Hits
Faizan Hashmi Published February 23, 2017 | 11:20 PM
BARCELONA, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Feb, 2017 ) - More than 17,000 ducks will be culled in Spain after a highly contagious bird flu strain that has affected poultry throughout Europe was detected at a farm, authorities said Thursday.
The virus found in Catalonia is H5N8, said Meritxell Serret, in charge of agriculture in the northeastern region -- the same one that has seen hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese slaughtered in France's southwest.
Up until now, the virus had only been detected in Spain in three wild animals.
The H5N8 strain can spread quickly in affected farms, often leading to the culling of thousands of birds. Joan Guix, in charge of public health in Catalonia, sought to ease fears, saying it was a virus "that does not spread to humans." Health authorities in Catalonia are now inspecting farms within a three-kilometre (1.9-mile) radius of the affected location to see if the virus had spread.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, 24 countries in Europe have detected the H5N8 virus this year, as have China, Egypt, Cameroon and India.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
EU wants to ease youth movement to and from UK
Police foils attempt of supply mainpuri raw material
More Stories From World
-
At G7, Blinken seeks European support for pressure on China
2 hours ago -
Thousands of Bosnian Serbs rally against UN resolution on Srebrenica
2 hours ago -
Israel assault has turned Gaza into 'humanitarian hellscape': UN
3 hours ago -
Husband of ex-Scottish leader charged over alleged embezzlement: police
3 hours ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
4 hours ago -
Hugs or bullets? How Mexico presidential rivals aim to curb violence
4 hours ago
-
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief, senior officers
4 hours ago -
Biden hails 'incredible' Kennedy family backing against RFK Jr.
4 hours ago -
Maldives court frees jailed ex-president ahead of vote
5 hours ago -
Probe into Portugal ex-PM Costa appears to collapse
5 hours ago -
Jury selection stalls in Trump criminal trial
5 hours ago -
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
5 hours ago