Germany to cull 62,000 poultry after bird flu alarm
Ducks roam in an outdoor enclosure at the farm of Modef des Landes agricultural union president Serge Mora in Mugron, southwestern France, Dec. 29, 2020. (AFP File Photo)


At least 62,000 turkeys and ducks will be culled after bird flu was detected on more poultry farms in Germany, authorities said Tuesday.

The Type H5N8 bird flu was confirmed in two farms in the Cloppenburg region in the northern state of Lower Saxony, the Cloppenburg local government authority said.

Cloppenburg is one of Germany's leading poultry production areas.

A series of outbreaks of bird flu have been reported in Europe in past weeks, with wild birds suspected to be spreading the disease.

Outbreaks have been reported in countries including France and Britain, along with cases found elsewhere in Germany.

The risk to humans from the disease is considered low, but containing past outbreaks among farm birds needed extensive slaughtering programs.