Poland: HPAI outbreak in west of Poland

The HPAI outbreak was confirmed on a turkey farm (94.206 heads) in the province of Lubuskie. It is the first outbreak of HPAI in that province. Since almost 3 weeks elapsed without new infections, it seemed that the HPAI had already  been eradicated on the Polish territory and the veterinary authorities would soon be able to apply for the OIE recognition as avian influenza free country. Unfortunately this is not the case.

Bord warning about HPAI zone
Beeld: ©Murawska

As of 6 March 2020, 33 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the H5N8 subtype in poultry were designated on the territory of the Republic of Poland: 3 in 2019 and 30 in 2020.

Outbreak 2020/30 was designated on a non-commercial farm where 74 laying hens were kept. The farm is located in Dąbrowica, in the Długołęka commune, in the Wrocław district, in the Dolnoslaskie province.

Since almost 3 weeks elapsed without new infections, it seemed that the HPAI had already been eradicated on the Polish territory and the veterinary authorities would soon be able to apply for the OIE recognition as avian influenza free country.

However, based on the results of tests received from the national reference laboratory for avian influenza on 24 March 2020, 34th outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the H5N8 subtype in poultry was designated on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

Outbreak 2020/31 was designated on a commercial farm where 94 206 turkeys for fattening were kept at the age of 13 weeks. The farm is located in Muszkowo, in the Krzeszyce commune, in the Sulęcin district, in the Lubuskie province.

This is the first outbreak in the province.

Beeld: NL embassy Poland

The farm owner reported to the Veterinary Service the massive deaths of his turkeys. There were about 600 dead birds. Samples taken from them were sent to the national reference laboratory for avian influenza in Puławy.

The positive test results, confirming the occurrence of H5N8 avian influenza virus in turkeys, were received on 24 March 2020. All the birds in the infected farm were culled, and the Lubuskie voivode is to issue a regulation defining the protection zone – an area with a radius of 3 km from the outbreak and the surveillance zone - at least 10 km from the outbreak.

An epizootic investigation to determine the source of turkey infection is being conducted by the District Veterinary Officer in Sulęcin.