MINSK, 4 January (BelTA) – Belarus has been taking consistent measures to prevent avian flu, Belarusian Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister, Director of the Veterinary and Food Oversight Department Ivan Smilgin told the media in Minsk on 4 January, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus has undertaken a whole set of measures to prevent avian flu. We are carrying out a regular state monitoring to keep track of the situation both at the poultry enterprises, in the private sector, and in the wild. In 2019, we analyzed more than 12,000 bird blood samples and also around 2,500 biological materials from deceased animals. We registered no cases of avian flu”, said Ivan Smilgin.
A case of highly pathogenic avian flu has been registered in Lublin Province in Poland. “Cases of avian flu are occasionally reported in Europe. Perhaps the largest outbreak of this disease struck Europe in 2016-2017: back then it affected Germany, the Netherlands, France, Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. So, such a situation is commonplace, we are not new to it anymore. The basic method to prevent avian flu is to implement biological security measures at the poultry enterprises as prescribed by the relevant regulations. We have imposed temporary restrictions on the imports of Lublin's products which have been deemed unsafe to Belarus”, remarked the deputy minister.
The restrictions apply to live poultry, hatching eggs, poultry meat, egg powder, egg melange, albumin and other products made from chicken eggs, down and feather, hunting trophies (feather game), and other products. “They will be lifted within three months after Poland completes the whole range of necessary measures, including the destruction of sick bird,” Ivan Smilgin said.
The Veterinary and Food Oversight Department at the Agriculture and Food Ministry informs about the need to take additional measures to ensure the biological protection of poultry facilities of all forms of ownership.
