Germany reports 1st H5N6 bird flu case on farm

BERLIN - The avian influenza virus H5N6 has been detected on a poultry farm on northern island of Germany for the first time, the Schleswig-Holstein state agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

The affected farm on the island of Hallig Suederoog has 57 chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese, all of which have been culled and disposed of.

Restriction zones have been established around the outbreak area and there is a ban on the movement of live poultry within it.

It is the first time the virus has been detected on a farm in Germany, the Schleswig-Holstein state agriculture ministry said.

Since the first detection of H5N6 avian influenza virus in the Netherlands in December 2017, other European countries such as Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark have also been affected.

The only case in Germany to date was detected in a wild duck in Bavaria in January 2018. No humans have been infected so far.