13,000 turkeys to be killed on Italian farm after second outbreak of highly contagious H5N1 bird flu  — RT World News

Local media reported that 200 birds were killed in Verona’s commercial turkey farm. The turkeys on a farm in Ronco all’Adige had suffered from a highly infectious H5N1 virus that causes bird flu, local veterinary services told the farm owners, according to la Repubblica daily. 

This news was confirmed also by the World Organization for Animal Health.

The flu killed 200 of the farm’s 13,000 birds. However, all the others will be killed and the carcasses burnt to stop the spread.

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In the northern part of Italy, 38,000 birds died last week in Ferrara. The virus was not as contagious in this case.

The authorities are confident the incidents were isolated, however they warn poultry owners to remain vigilant. To avoid contact with wild birds, they are asked to watch their flocks closely and to isolate them in farms. The sheds should be kept within a 1-kilometer radius.

Bird flu can be spread from one species to another by birds that migrate, or other animals. The last winter saw the most severe bird flu epidemics in Europe. There were 3800 cases of bird flu in 31 countries, affecting 23 million birds. Between May and September, outbreaks continued to increase when they should have stopped during the summer months. Another 162 cases were reported in 17 other countries.

Although the virus H5N1 is contagious in birds, it’s not as deadly for humans. It is possible to transmit the virus to humans. Farmers have been known as having contracted it.

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