Bird Flu Apprehension: 2.5 Million Poultry Were Culled in Afyon.

Bird Flu Alert: New Case in Afyon

İRFAN DONAT

Bird flu cases in Turkey's poultry sector have escalated again with the arrival of autumn. This disease, which led to the culling of 20 million poultry last year, is now signaling danger in the province of Afyon this year.

Culling Numbers Rapidly Increasing

Following a bird flu case recorded in Afyon in the last week of August, 2 million poultry were culled. With a new case observed in the same region last week, the total number of culled poultry has approached 2.5 million.

Epidemic Risk and Necessary Precautions

According to information provided by producers in the region, there are many businesses around the area where the bird flu case occurred. According to World Health Organization criteria, in such situations, businesses within a 3-square-kilometer radius must be quarantined, and the animals culled as soon as possible. However, some businesses avoiding the implementation of measures is leading to an even greater risk.

Past Outbreaks and Their Effects

As will be remembered, bird flu cases seen in Konya in October 2024 last year spread to Afyon in November 2024 due to untimely measures; this situation also caused heavy losses in provinces like Manisa and Gaziantep.

Sector stakeholders warn that if necessary precautions are not taken, businesses in Konya, Manisa, and Gaziantep will also be at risk again, and the bird flu bill will become even heavier.