Avian Influenza in wild birds in Poland
Half a thousand dead birds have been collected at the Bay of Puck in Poland since the beginning of February. Avian influenza virus was detected in dead animals.
According to the Local Veterinary Inspectorate in Gdańsk, the H5N8 virus occurs cyclically every year, but in last years so many birds have not died in that amount in only a few weeks. Local authorities organize the cleaning of the bay shore and the collection of fallen birds. They are sent for disposal in authorized entities under the supervision of the County Veterinary Doctor. Samples for testing are taken from found fallen birds, if they constitute the appropriate material for testing. A lot of bird carcasses found are remains, often unsuitable as a material for laboratory research, and the species found are mainly swans. According to the Voivodship Veterinary Inspectorate, the disease was confirmed in birds in the Puck and Wejherowo poviats as well as in Gdynia, Sopot and Gdańsk.
The Poviat Veterinary Doctors of Puck, Wejherowo, Gdańsk and Gdynia have established cooperation with the Poviat Crisis Management Centers in the field of action strategies, including: safe collection and management of dead bird bodies by local government security services and informing and sharing of fallen birds with the Veterinary Inspection in order to collect material for laboratory tests.
In the poviats of Wejherowo and Puck, risk areas have been designated, where orders and prohibitions have been introduced by ordinances issued by Poviat Veterinary Doctors.
Currently, due to the positive results of avian influenza, in subsequent locations of the Gulf of Gdańsk, a regulation of the Pomeranian region is set designating the endangered areas covering among others Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot and part of the Puck poviat, Władysławowo, Reda and Rumia.
Source: Agropolska.pl