Denmark raises bird flu threat level to high

Denmark’s Veterinary and Food Administration has raised the bird flu threat level from medium to high, citing more infections among wild birds and three outbreaks at Danish poultry businesses this autumn, DR reports.

The assessment concerns the risk of transmission from wild birds to domestic birds. Stricter rules for bird owners take effect on November 9. Birds must be kept indoors, in an aviary or in a covered enclosure. Owners must not give them rainwater, and their food and water must be kept indoors or under cover.

The administration also recommends changing and disinfecting footwear before entering areas where birds are kept. Owners who suspect their birds are ill should contact a veterinarian. Dead wild birds suspected of having died from the disease can be reported through the administration’s Fugleinfluenza-Tip app.

On October 23, bird flu was detected at a turkey farm in Slagelse, followed two days later by an outbreak at a farm on Lolland. A total of 67,000 turkeys were due to be culled. Another outbreak was detected in a smaller flock in Guldborgsund on October 27.

Bird flu causes severe symptoms in poultry and has a high mortality rate among birds. It can rarely spread to people who have close contact with infected birds. The Danish Veterinary Consortium assesses the risk to humans as low.