Bird culls in the wake of the months-long outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are continuing as Asian nations report higher cull figures and Germany also posts increasing bird deaths in the last three months.
Officials in South Korea announced that more than 33 million birds have been culled since November, more than double the record 13.96 million birds destroyed in an HPAI outbreak in 2014, according to several local media reports. The latest outbreaks have affected an estimated 340 farms in South Korea and the virus has resurfaced after appearing to abate in early February, according to the Korea Times. Compensation for the lost poultry is expected to reach $227.1 million, nearly three times the amount the government paid in the wake of the 2014 outbreaks.
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