AI worsens Polish poultry export crisis

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. The last time AI hit the Polish poultry industry was in December of 2019. In total, 35 outbreaks were reported in 9 provinces, with the last one taking place on 31 March. The risk to humans from the disease is considered low. Several studies at the Puławy Veterinary Institute showed the virus poses no danger to human health. However, Polish poultry farmers raised concerns that a new wave of the AI epidemic ...