Several countries in Europe have reported outbreaks of the highly contagious bird flu strain H5N8. <br /><br /> In Austria, the health ministry ordered that all birds on a poultry farm be culled this week to stop the disease from spreading after a Turkey tested positive for the virus. <br /><br /> Though it has never been found in humans, H5N8 is particularly virulent in wild birds. <br /><br /> The Austrian farmer whose birds will be destroyed spoke of the impact on his business. <br /><br /> “Christmas is when we see our main turnover. We have to kill about 1,000 animals. For us this is a huge challenge to deal with both physically and mentally. We will have to see how we can cope with the situation economically,” farmer Klaus Flatz said. <br /><br /> Along with Austria, cases in Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Croatia have all recently been reported. <br /><br /> 9000 turkeys were destroyed in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein this week, while the Dutch government has ordered all poultry flocks be kept indoors.<br />
