In a significant development for the poultry industry, 115,000 laying hens are to be culled near Herlufmagle in Zealand, Denmark, due to the detection of avian influenza. The Danish Food Authority announced the culling in an effort to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading to other birds. This situation arises amid increasing concerns about high infection pressures from bird flu observed in wild birds throughout the country this season, affecting both large and small poultry operations.

Henriette M. Hansen, a section leader at the Danish Food Authority, emphasized the severity of the current outbreak, highlighting the challenging role that wild birds play in transmitting the virus. The decision to cull is part of a proactive strategy aimed at controlling the outbreak and protecting the broader avian population. The authorities are taking this step to safeguard not only commercial poultry but also to prevent further ecological disruptions on farms and in natural habitats.

The Danish Food Authority has additionally urged all poultry and bird keepers to maintain heightened biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza. With the ongoing outbreak, it is crucial for bird owners to be vigilant and implement practices that will shield their birds from potential infections, thereby safeguarding public health and the economy in Denmark's agricultural sector.