Hundreds of chickens were killed in Corsica in France after the virus was discovered in a garden center. France has already ordered poultry farms to set up chicken nets to prevent birds from coming into contact with wild birds that spread the disease.
The outbreak in Denmark also means that Danish exports of eggs and poultry to countries outside the EU must be stopped for at least three months. In addition, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration will establish a zone of around three kilometers around the affected farm, where all poultry will be subject to restrictions.
The H5N8 bird flu virus has spread in Western Europe in recent months following outbreaks in Russia and Kazakhstan this summer. On Saturday, Belgium chose to quarantine all its poultry and privately owned birds, both to protect agriculture and the many pigeon lofts that breed carrier pigeons for use in competitions. H5N8 infection was detected among birds on a reserve in the country earlier this week.
Cases of the virus have also been found in the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and England. Earlier this month, the Netherlands had to kill more than 200,000 birds.
Bird flu poses no danger to humans, but can be very dangerous to agriculture.
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