Rising Infections and Unreported Cases Spark Concerns
Avian Flu Outbreak Worsens as Infected Poultry Enters the Market
Rising Infections and Unreported Cases Spark Concerns
The avian flu outbreak is escalating across multiple regions in China, causing significant losses for poultry farmers. However, the authorities have yet to issue an official report, leading to concerns as infected chickens, ducks, and geese are being sold in markets.
Farmers Struggle Amid Rapidly Spreading Virus
The situation in provinces such as Shandong, Henan, and Hebei continues to deteriorate. Poultry farmers are sharing distressing reports, with images from a farm in Yinan, Shandong, showing large numbers of chicks collapsing and barely surviving. In Puyang, Henan, local farmers report that entire flocks of geese have been wiped out.
Independent virus testing indicates that since December last year, strains like H5N1 and H5N2 have been spreading widely among duck populations. Despite this, China’s National Center for Disease Control and the National Health Commission have not issued large-scale warnings or mandated culling, prompting struggling farmers to sell infected poultry to avoid further financial losses.
Lack of Official Response Raises Risk of Wider Spread
According to U.S.-based commentator Tang Jingyuan, Chinese authorities appear to be downplaying the outbreak to protect foreign investments and economic recovery efforts. Meanwhile, state media has focused on avian flu outbreaks in countries such as South Korea, Japan, the UK, and the U.S., while largely ignoring the domestic crisis.
Residents in Shanghai and Jiangsu report that without official intervention, local farmers are left with no choice but to sell sick poultry. Experts warn that allowing infected birds into the market not only poses serious food safety risks but could also accelerate the spread of the virus, endangering workers in farms and slaughterhouses.
As avian flu continues to spread worldwide, the true extent of China’s outbreak remains obscured, raising growing concerns over market safety and public health.
