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Vilija Grigaliūnienė Eltai, who is acting temporarily as an advisor to the SFVS Emergency Activities Division, said that although the autumn migration routes do not pass through Lithuania and there is no need to fear the outbreak of bird flu in the country, the situation in Europe is worrying.
“Although it is not very relevant for Lithuania, because the autumn migration routes do not pass through Lithuania, the situation itself is worrying, because already in November, when the autumn bird migration should end and flu cases are still detected. avian, “he said.
V. Grigaliūnienė noted that highly pathogenic avian influenza is currently spreading in Europe, detected mainly in wild waterfowl.
“We see the situation in Europe: in the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and even Ireland, highly pathogenic avian influenza, a strain of the H5N8 subtype, which circulated in Europe in the spring, is found and detected during this period”, said V. Grigaliūnienė.
“However, during the spring migration period, most of the outbreaks were found in poultry farms, and the most recent fall migration, avian influenza, was mainly detected among wild waterfowl migrating to warmer lands. from Europe, “he added.
V. Grigaliūnienė stressed that the order of the Director of the SFVS is currently in force, according to which poultry farmers must meet strict requirements to protect their birds from contact with wild birds in bodies of water.
“We constantly informed Lithuanian poultry farmers about the situation in neighboring countries and warned them that they would comply with all strict safety requirements. It is recalled that an order from the Director of the SFVS is currently in force, which obliges bird breeders to keep birds closed or release them only in fenced areas. It is necessary to ensure that poultry do not have contact with aquatic birds, that they do not have access to open bodies of water and that garbage and food are protected, ”he told Eltai.
Meanwhile, the president of the Lithuanian Poultry Association, Vytautas Tėvelis, stated that in order to prevent the loss of large flocks of birds due to the spread of bird flu in Europe, many farmers closely monitor their flocks of birds.
“Of course, poultry farmers fear bird flu, because when it occurs, relatively large flocks of birds are eliminated, other restrictions are introduced on the production and movement of birds. This threat is especially taken into account when birds migrate in spring and autumn. Then the poultry farmers take more care and protect their herds, “he told Elta.
V. Tėvelis also pointed out that although large poultry farms apply all necessary protection measures, some breeders of small flocks of birds tend to look with indifference to the security measures necessary to guarantee the farms.
“Especially large factory poultry farms apply all necessary protection measures. However, large companies have paid a little attention to small poultry farmers, as some of them, especially during the summer, keep the birds closed and this can lead to some contact with wild birds, ”he said.
ELTA recalls that on October 23 the Netherlands reported a confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) in wildlife.
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