Finland culls 120,000 foxes and minks to halt bird flu spread on fur farms

In an effort to curb the spread of bird flu on fur farms, Finland, which holds the title of Europe’s largest producer of fox fur, has initiated a culling operation targeting 120,000 foxes and minks. The decision was made following the detection of the H5N1 strain of bird flu among gulls in June and subsequent infections on fur farms in July, reported Al-Rai Daily.

Twiga Gad, the head of the virology unit at the Finnish Food Authority, stated that an order was issued to eliminate animals from 13 farms, and the culling has been executed on 10 of these farms so far. The move comes as part of a larger strategy to contain the spread of the epidemic, which has been wreaking havoc across Europe since late 2021. Infections have been reported in both North and South America as well.

With approximately 400 fur-breeding farms in the country, housing around 1.3 million animals—primarily minks and foxes—Finland’s authorities deemed it necessary to take substantial measures to control the disease’s escalation. The severity of the bird flu outbreak has prompted unprecedented actions to safeguard both animal populations and human health.

Animal rights activists and environmentalists have expressed concerns over the culling operation, highlighting the ethical and ecological implications of such large-scale actions. The situation also highlights the complex interplay between commercial interests, animal welfare, and public health concerns.

As the world grapples with the challenge of containing one of the worst bird flu outbreaks in history, Finland’s approach to disease management underscores the difficult decisions faced by governments, farmers, and activists in balancing various competing interests and safeguarding public health.