Poland's Feathered Crisis: 11.5 Million Birds Culled Amid Deadly Flu Surge
Poland has culled over 11 million birds and introduced mandatory vaccinations in a sweeping response to a surge in avian flu outbreaks across commercial farms.
A quiet crisis is sweeping through Polish farms—one that's left more than 11 million chickens and turkeys culled in just months. The culprit? Avian influenza, a deadly bird flu strain that’s hit 82 commercial farms and is showing no signs of slowing.
This isn’t just another seasonal scare. The H5N1 strain confirmed by labs has also infected wild bird populations, with the government forced to take drastic action: 7.5 million birds culled from infected farms, and another 4 million from nearby facilities deemed “at risk.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Poland is also battling 23 outbreaks of Newcastle Disease—another highly contagious bird virus that devastates respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems.
In response, the Polish government isn't waiting around. A new regulation now mandates vaccinations for large-scale poultry farms and hatcheries. Meanwhile, the EU has approved a 13-point emergency action plan aimed at curbing the virus' spread without imposing harsher restrictions—at least for now.
Poland, one of Europe's poultry powerhouses, is fighting to protect both its flocks and its farming economy. Whether these measures will be enough to halt the outbreak remains to be seen.