Swedish authorities have culled 28,000 turkeys following an avian influenza outbreak. The birds were euthanized over the weekend at a facility in southern Sweden.
Infection tracing continues as officials work to contain the spread. The Swedish Board of Agriculture ordered all animals at the affected facility to be destroyed.
Ella Sigvardsson, the infection protection officer, confirmed the culling occurred during the weekend. She provided this information in an official statement.
The agency also established high-risk zones across southern Sweden starting October 27. These measures aim to protect Swedish poultry flocks from further infection.
All poultry within designated high-risk areas must now be kept indoors. This includes chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other domestic birds.
Officials note unusually high spread of bird flu in Europe this season. The current outbreak appears more widespread than typical seasonal patterns.
Animal owners should contact veterinarians immediately if birds die suddenly or show illness symptoms. Early reporting helps contain potential outbreaks before they spread.
This massive culling represents one of Sweden's larger agricultural responses to avian flu in recent years. The economic impact on local farmers could be substantial given the scale of the operation.