The Dutch government has announced that it intends to cull some 201,000 chickens at a farm in the northern city of Emmen following the discovery of a highly contagious strain of avian influenza.
This month, 12 cases of an extremely deadly type of bird flu have been identified in the Netherlands after dozens of cases were detected earlier this year.
Cases have resurfaced in France, which experienced its worst wave of bird flu earlier this year.
The worldwide spread of avian influenza has alarmed governments and poultry industry officials due to its potential to decimate bird populations and cause trade restrictions, in addition to the risk of transmitting the virus to humans.
Source: Reuters