A highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak has been confirmed at a poultry farm in Kosičky-Třesice, Czech Republic, prompting the culling of the entire flock. The outbreak marks the second instance of the virus in a commercial operation within the country this year.
Veterinary officials reported increased mortality among the chickens, leading to sample collection on Thursday. Subsequent testing at the State Veterinary Institute confirmed the presence of avian influenza, according to a statement from the veterinary administration.
“The infection arrived through the air,” explained Jan Pozdílek, director of the affected Podnik pro výrobu vajec (Egg Production Company). “First, swans were dying on the pond, then ducks in the commercial farm in Kosičky-Třesice. Here, deaths began in the two halls closest to Třesice and the pond.”
Pozdílek noted that the mortality rate rapidly escalated from dozens to hundreds, and then thousands of birds. “Chickens of different ages were dying. Now, no one goes into the halls, and we are waiting for the fire department to intervene,” he said.
Despite extensive preventative measures, the virus proved highly aggressive. “We washed the asphalt around the halls with hot, pressurized water daily. No one was allowed into the area, and no vehicles were permitted. Strict changing procedures were in place, and no one could move between halls in the same clothing,” Pozdílek detailed. Workers were also required to utilize disinfectant footbaths, and the facility had a disinfectant barrier at the entrance.
Fewer Chickens in the Czech Republic
The culling of the flock is expected to start Monday and will likely take several days. While the loss will be significant, company officials say it won’t cripple the business. While, replenishing the stock will be challenging, as the Czech Republic currently has fewer laying hens than five years ago due to ongoing conversions from caged to cage-free systems.
The company will need to source eggs from collaborating poultry farms and imports to meet customer demand during the restocking period. This outbreak comes as the Czech Republic grapples with a decline in domestic egg production.
This isn’t the first time the farm has been hit by avian influenza. A similar outbreak led to the culling of approximately 170,000 chickens in the spring of 2021, with recovery taking about three-quarters of a year.
Fire at Poultry Farm Last Year
In May 2025, a fire caused significant damage to the farm, resulting in 35 million Czech crowns (approximately $1.5 million USD) in losses. The fire destroyed an empty hall, but also damaged a nearby administrative building. Fifteen employees were evacuated, and one person was treated for smoke inhalation. The incident did not directly impact the poultry population.
