A total of 100,000 domestic fowl have been slaughtered in Crimea's Primorskoye village. Damage is estimated at about $400,000, the NTN channel said, citing veterinary officials.
Ukrainian Agrarian Policy Minister Oleksandr Baranivsky said grave violations of sanitary rules were to blame for the bird flu outbreak. Chickens were given water from open water reservoirs that lie on migrating birds' way.
Criminal cases were opened against farm workers who are accused of negligence.
Mass fowl deaths were reported in Primorskoye December 28. Several days later the Vektor virology center based in Siberia confirmed the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain.
The strain of bird flu found in the Crimea is highly contagious for chicken but presents less of a danger for people, an expert from the virology center said Wednesday.
