Czech Republic has reported an outbreak of H5N8 bird flu at a poultry farm

[caption id="attachment_6400" align="aligncenter" width="1014"] File Photo[/caption] The Czech Republic has recorded an H5N8 bird flu outbreak on a small farm in the south of the country. About half of the 30-bird flocks died. The state veterinary administration announced this on Friday (January 22, 2021). The infection occurred at a farm 99 kilometers (61 miles) south of the capital, Prague, and was probably caused by wild ducks from a nearby pond, the office said. H5N8 is a subtype of the Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). Although H5N8 is considered one of the less pathogenic subtypes for humans, it is beginning to become more pathogenic. H5N8 has previously been used in place of the highly pathogenic H1N1 in studies. While H5N8 presents only a low risk to humans, it is highly lethal to wild birds and poultry. Source: Online/SZK