Severe bird flu has been detected in a herd of turkeys in Lundby near Skælskør in the southern part of Zealand, Denmark.

This is the variant of bird flu H5N8, which is particularly contagious and has a high mortality rate, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said in a statement.

“The herd consists of approximately 50,000 turkeys spread over ten buildings. The infection has only been found in the birds in one building,” the statement added.

The outbreak in Lundby is the eighth in Danish herds since November. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration called on all commercial herds and hobby breeders to show great caution and pay extra attention while dealing with their birds.