Suspected bird flu transmitted by seagulls has continued to spread on fur farms in Finland, with the Finnish health authority THL reporting the cases detected on 21 farms.
Initial results from complete genome sequencing indicate that wild birds, especially the black-headed gull, are the source of the infection.
Bird flu viruses with mutations that enhance replication in mammalian cells were found on two farms.
The Finnish food authority had earlier ordered the culling of all minks on farms where bird flu was detected; the exact number of animals culled is unclear.
Earlier, Finnish radio had reported an estimated 70,000 fur animals that would need to be killed, including 30,000 minks and 40,000 foxes.
However, this number is likely to have increased since then, animal welfare organizations criticize the mass culling and fur farming in general.
The health authority considers bird flu a public health risk and urged fur farms to better protect their animals from contact with birds.
The issue has implications beyond Finland’s national borders, the health authority added.
International health authorities and scientists were also concerned that the virus’s adaptation to mammals could potentially lead to the emergence of a new variant of the influenza virus.
