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PoultryWorld
Millions of broilers culled in Poland due to AI
Nearly 6 million birds have recently been culled in Poland due to avian influenza (AI), as the outbreak count breaks new records.
Industry representatives have warned that the sector is facing a tough situation, as the epidemic has never before been this severe in the country. “This is the first time we are facing such a crisis. Until now, 65 outbreaks was the highest number, and we have already exceeded 200,” – said Andrzej Danielak, a spokesperson for the Polish Association of Poultry Breeders and Producers. The last time AI struck Poland, in December of 2019, the outbreaks continued through February of 2020. At that time, a total of 35 outbreaks of this disease were found in 9 provinces, mainly in ducks and turkeys. The virus temporarily halted Polish poultry exports, which proved to be quite painful for local poultry farmers.
PoultryWorld
AI worsens Polish poultry export crisis
Polish veterinary agencies reported a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in the Siedlce poviat area on a turkey farm with over 117,000 birds, revealed in early December of 2020.
This is the 34th AI outbreak in Poland in 2020, but only the second in the second half of the year. In a follow-up statement, the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate called all poultry breeders to exercise extreme caution and adhere to the principles of biosecurity when handling poultry to minimise the risk of AI being transferred to farms from wild animals. The previous bird flu outbreak occurred in the village of Wroniawy in Western Poland at a farm with 930,000 laying hens on 25 November. The Chief Veterinary Inspectorate ordered the culling of the entire poultry stock at the farm.