New bird flu case found in Poland

The H5N1 bird flu virus has been found at a new farm in Poland some 2km from a site where it was discovered on Saturday, Agriculture…

The H5N1 bird flu virus has been found at a new farm in Poland some 2km from a site where it was discovered on Saturday, Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki said today.

The virus was detected at a farm with about 360,000 birds within a danger zone set up after the previous bird flu discovery. The region has significant poultry production.

This is an economic, not a health problem
Polish agriculture minister Marek Sawicki

"This is an economic, not a health problem," the minister told a news conference, adding that farmers would get compensation for birds culled because of the virus.

Culling began on Sunday of the 110,000 birds at the first site. Polish authorities have said they expect the ban on poultry products from the affected region to be extended as new centres of infection are found.

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One of the EU's biggest poultry producers, Poland exported 230,000 tonnes of poultry to European markets last year.