Poland records largest-ever bird flu outbreak

https://www.thepoultrysite.com/news/2021/05/poland-records-largest-ever-bird-flu-outbreak

Over six million birds have been culled in the EU’s largest poultry producer as bird flu cases top 260.MARKETS AND ECONOMICSMARKET TRENDSBIOSECURITYAVIAN INFLUENZADISEASESHEALTH & DISEASEby The Poultry Site3 May 2021, at 8:33am

Poland is currently contending with 262 outbreaks of bird flu, the country’s highest recorded number of infections. Reporting from Notes from Poland explains that over six million birds have been culled to stem the spread of the disease. Though poultry farmers can claim compensation for their losses, the hit to the country’s poultry industry, which produces 20% of the EU’s poultry meat, has been immense.

Animal health authorities believe that the outbreaks are due to the high concentration of poultry farms in certain locations. Poland’s chief veterinarian is calling on the government to update regulations to ensure greater biosecurity measures and that there is sufficient space between poultry farms.

“This is the first time we are facing such a great crisis,” Andrzej Danielak, from the Polish Association of Poultry Breeders and Producers said. “Until now, 65 outbreaks was the largest [annual] number, and here we have already exceeded 200.”

Prices for eggs and poultry meat in Poland have already increased 65% since November, and many economists expect the price hikes to continue. However, there could be some relief as the weather becomes warmer.

Read more about this story in Notes from Poland.

Poland finds first case of COVID-19 in mink

Author of the article:ReutersReutersPublishing date:Feb 01, 2021  •  7 hours ago  •  1 minute read

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WARSAW — Poland has found its first case of COVID-19 in mink, the agriculture ministry said, raising fears of costly culls in an industry that counts over 350 farms in the country.

With new variants of the coronavirus threatening global efforts to get the pandemic under control, authorities in several countries have begun mass culls of the animals due to fears of a mutated strain of the illness being transmitted to humans.Impaired driving charges in northern Ontario surge by 50 per cent in 2020 https://c5x8i7c7.ssl.hwcdn.net/vplayer-parallel/20201216_1412/ima_html5/index.htmlhttps://c5x8i7c7.ssl.hwcdn.net/vplayer-parallel/20201216_1412/videojs/show.html?controls=1&loop=30&autoplay=0&tracker=e6791365-0a29-412a-bb47-d1cf2908b27f&height=218&width=387&vurl=%2F%2Fa.jsrdn.com%2Fvideos%2Fcdgv_nationalpost%2F20210201061542_60179b47850f9%2Fcdgv_nationalpost_trending_articles_20210201061542_60179b47850f9_new.mp4&poster=%2F%2Fa.jsrdn.com%2Fvideos%2Fcdgv_nationalpost%2F20210201061542_60179b47850f9%2Fcdgv_nationalpost_trending_articles_20210201061542_60179b47850f9_new.jpg

Late on Sunday the ministry said in a statement it had been informed by veterinary inspectors on Saturday of a case in Kartuzy county in northern Poland.

“I hope this is a single case, although we must take all measures to limit possible transmission of the virus,” Deputy Health Minister Waldemar Kraska told local broadcaster Radio Gdansk on Monday, adding that all mink at the affected farm would be culled.

Denmark, the world’s top exporter of mink furs, ordered a cull of the country’s entire population of some 17 million mink in 2020, and in January announced it would compensate farmers with up to 19 billion Danish crowns ($3.09 billion).

In a statement sent to state-run news agency PAP, representatives of the Polish fur industry said the state was not offering any compensation for culled animals, and that they would launch a class action lawsuit demanding damages.

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The agriculture ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The General Veterinary Inspectorate said in a statement it was investigating whether the farm had followed sanitary regulations and that possible compensation or penalties would depend on its findings.

The Regional Veterinary Inspectorate in Gdansk said four samples from the farm had tested positive on Saturday, and that 5,845 mink were in the area affected by the outbreak.