More bird flu outbreaks likely to hit Europe, says animal health chief

Paris

FURTHER bird flu outbreaks caused by migrating birds are likely to hit Europe in the future after a second outbreak in as many years on the continent that was down to chance, said the head of the world animal health body. A total of 18 European countries have been hit by the contagious H5N8 strain since mid-October, leading to the culling of more than 1.5 million poultry so far.

France, which has the largest poultry flock in the European Union, has ordered a massive cull of hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese in south-western France to halt the spread of the virus. It widened the zone on Tuesday.