Poultry cull to tackle bird flu outbreak worsens food crisis

THE world’s worst bird flu outbreak is exacerbating the cost of living crisis, experts have warned, after the number of poultry culled almost doubled since last season.

More than 22 million cases have been reported in wild birds and poultry so far this season in 68 countries, double the 11million recorded between October 2020 and September 2021, itself an unprecedented level.

In an effort to curb the outbreak, 94.2million farmed poultry have been killed and disposed of, compared with 54.4million last season. Before 2020, the number of birds culled to stem the spread of avian flu worldwide has only topped 15million twice.

Experts said the increase had further disrupted supply chains, contributing to higher prices.

“This is a devastating situation from a market and supply perspective,” Kathleen Liang, director of the Centre for Environmental Farming Systems in North Carolina, said.

“Remember that the chicken comes with the egg… the cost of both has definitely gone up due to bird flu, compounded by inflation and import/ export challenges,” she added. “Bird flu is one of a combination of factors that is driving food insecurity.” In the UK, some restrictions to protect poultry and captive birds were lifted in May, but an avian influenza prevention zone is in place, meaning bird keepers have to follow strict biosecurity measures.

Prof Munir Iqbal, head of the Avian Influenza Virus group at the Pirbright Institute in Surrey, told The Daily Telegraph that the risk to agriculture remained high because bird flu was still spreading in wild populations.

“Farmers are in constant threat from a disease outbreak at any time,” said Prof Iqbal. “Even during the summer months, outbreaks with H5N1 [bird flu] are being reported… [which means] that the virus is prevailing in wild birds and being disseminated to poultry.”

“The cost of production is increasing due to both disease outbreaks and feed prices, [which affects] the livelihood of farmers as well as affordability for customers,” he added.

“The price of both poultry meat and eggs has significantly increased in the UK and other countries.”

At least 3,000 birds have died in the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland, according to the National Trust, in the worst disaster to hit its colonies in nearly 100 years. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government Agency Naturescot has advised 23 islands to halt visitors in an effort to limit the spread of bird flu.