H5N8 avian influenza strikes layer farm in Greece

About 28,000 susceptible chickens are destroyed

A layer farm in Greece has been infected by H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that birds in a flock of 28,000 caged laying hens had tested positive for the virus. The testing was conducted on January 12.

While no birds died as a result of contracting the virus, all of the chickens in the flock were destroyed.

Other control measures put in place included quarantine, movement control inside the country, screening, zoning, surveillance outside of the containment and/or protection zone, and official destruction of animal products. The farm is being disinfected.

The affected farm is located in the Peloponnisos region of southern Greece.

The infection comes at a time when Europe remains on high alert for avian influenza. The continent’s top four poultry-producing countries – Poland, France, U.K. and Germany – have all reported cases of HPAI.

Earlier case of avian influenza in Greece

While this is the first case of avian influenza to reach the commercial poultry sector, the country in December did have a detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a wild bird.

A mute swan had been found dead in a national park along the delta of the Evros River, and it tested positive for the H5N8 strain of avian influenza, according to a report from the OIE.

The swan was found in the northeastern portion of the country.

OIE stated that it will submit weekly reports on the avian influenza situation in Greece until it considers it to be resolved.

Roy Graber is a staff reporter at WATT Global Media.