Bird flu kills 25,000 turkeys in eastern Poland, sparks cull

Authorities in eastern Poland say bird flu is responsible for deaths of at least 25,000 turkeys in poultry farms near country's borders with Ukraine and Belarus.

Polish veterinary authorities on Thursday were planning to cull tens of thousands of birds in Lubartow area, a major poultry farming region. Police were blocking access to affected area to n-residents.

chief veterinarian for Lublin province, Pawel Piotrowski, confirmed that dely H5N8 virus was responsible for turkey deaths in two farms in vill of Stary Uscimow, which lies 45 kilometers (28 miles) from borders with Ukraine and Belarus.

It was t clear how bird flu virus found its way to farms.