In February 2024, government veterinarians in the Czech Republic investigating a bird flu outbreak found themselves in the middle of a puzzling case.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 virus was devastating a flock of chickens on a highly secure farm, home of a breeding program that produced hybrid birds with specially colored feathers and eggs. A nearby facility owned by the same company also saw its chickens become infected.
How had the virus gotten in? The facilities were state-of-the-art. The water on the chicken farms was filtered, supplied by their own wells. The chicken houses had giant fans that created one-way air flow through the barns. The facility was surrounded by sturdy, well-maintained fencing that kept wild animals out. Employees weren’t even allowed to keep their own chickens at home.