12,089 turkeys lost to avian influenza in Poland

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been reported in a flock of commercial turkeys in Poland.

Roy Graber Headshot
Photo courtesy of Iowa Turkey Federation
Photo courtesy of Iowa Turkey Federation

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been reported in a flock of commercial turkeys in Poland.

The Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s General Veterinary Inspectorate reported the outbreak to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on January 2.

According to a report on the OIE webpage, 12,089 turkeys died at a farm in the Lublin region in the eastern part of the country, which borders Belarus and the Ukraine.

Samples were taken from five dead turkeys, and those samples tested positive for a highly pathogenic form of H5N8 avian influenza.

The source of infection has not been determined.

Control measures applied include screening, traceability, destruction of animal byproducts, official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste, stamping out, control of wildlife reservoirs and zoning, according to the OIE.

In the latest outbreak, Andrzej Danielak, president of Polish Association of Breeders and Poultry Producers, told Reuters that three farms might be affected, with up to 350,000 birds at risk in a three kilometer radius.

OIE stated it would provide weekly updates on the avian influenza situation in Poland until it is resolved.

This is the first case of H5N8 HPAI since 2017. In March of that year, Polish veterinary officials reported to the OIE the presence of the disease in three commercial and two backyard flocks in the provinces of Greater Poland, Lesser Poland and Lubuskie. More than 31,000 poultry died or were destroyed as a result of the disease in these outbreaks.

Poland also dealing with ASF

In addition to dealing with the HPAI case, Polish veterinary officials are also dealing with an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). According to the OIE, there have been 87 cases of the disease reported involving 116 animals. So far, all reported cases have been in wild boars and no commercial herds have been affected.

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