Police have launched an investigation after more than 700 dead chickens riddled with bird flu were found dumped in a forest in northern Poland.
The grim discovery was made by foresters who came across almost 500 of the dead birds near the village of Napierki in the Warmia-Masuria Province.
They later stumbled upon another 230 stuffed inside bags nearby.
Initial laboratory tests revealed the presence of bird flu, which was later confirmed by the State Research Institute in Puławy, eastern Poland.
District Veterinary Officer Jarosław Wydrachowski said that the H5N1 strain of the virus, a highly pathogenic form of bird flu, had been identified.
Police say the perpetrator now faces up to three years in prison, as disposing of the infected birds would be considered more serious than illegal dumping.
The discovery follows two similar cases in the nearby region of Mława, where 350 dead hens were found near the village of Krzywonoś, and another 30 hens crammed inside bags were found near the village of Wyszyny Kościelne.
In both cases, the chickens were found to have bird flu, the H5N1 strain of which poses a serious threat to the poultry industry.
In May, strict biosecurity measures, including the immediate culling of affected flocks, were introduced in the region to prevent the disease from spreading further.
They later stumbled upon another 230 stuffed inside bags nearby.
Initial laboratory tests revealed the presence of bird flu, which was later confirmed by the State Research Institute in Puławy, eastern Poland.
District Veterinary Officer Jarosław Wydrachowski said that the H5N1 strain of the virus, a highly pathogenic form of bird flu, had been identified.
Police say the perpetrator now faces up to three years in prison, as disposing of the infected birds would be considered more serious than illegal dumping.
Similar cases
The discovery follows two similar cases in the nearby region of Mława, where 350 dead hens were found near the village of Krzywonoś, and another 30 hens crammed inside bags were found near the village of Wyszyny Kościelne.
In both cases, the chickens were found to have bird flu, the H5N1 strain of which poses a serious threat to the poultry industry.
In May, strict biosecurity measures, including the immediate culling of affected flocks, were introduced in the region to prevent the disease from spreading further.
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