2024-04-10 23:05:23
PVD has received the results of laboratory tests, which confirm the highly pathogenic bird flu in the forest goose in Skańkalne parish, Valmiera region.
Representatives of the service call on Latvian poultry keepers not to let poultry outside of premises or fenced structures, not to allow poultry to come into contact with wild birds, especially waterfowl, swans, ducks, as well as to refrain from purchasing poultry in other European countries during the spring months.
Poultry owners must immediately report to PVD if signs of illness are observed in birds, there is a significant decrease in bird feed and water intake, a decrease in performance or bird mortality is observed.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is an acute, highly contagious infectious disease of birds characterized by high mortality. The clinical signs of the disease are a sudden and rapid course of the disease, weakness, refusal of food, disheveled feathers, sloppy gait, suffocation and other signs.
The spreaders of the virus are wild birds, especially waterfowl, for which the disease can progress without characteristic symptoms. Poultry can become infected by coming into contact with infected wild birds, for example by accessing ponds and other bodies of water. Also, birds can be infected with contaminated feed or objects, shoes, clothing, inventory on which the virus has come.
In 2024, the highly pathogenic bird flu has so far been detected in wild birds in 25 European countries, and in poultry in 16 European countries.
PVD calls on citizens to report found dead wild birds in order to prevent poultry from getting sick with highly pathogenic bird flu.
PVD invites residents to report found dead wild birds, especially waterfowl, by calling the PVD hotline 67027402 or informing the nearest PVD administration, accurately describing the location of the bird’s corpse or giving the coordinates. PVD calls on all cases of suspected poultry disease to be immediately reported to the veterinarian or PVD.
A bird carcass with the head and internal organs intact is valid for laboratory examination for avian influenza, so the PVD calls for reporting only wild birds that have not already been damaged by animals or other birds. The local government is responsible for collecting carcasses of wild birds unsuitable for laboratory examination and cleaning up the surroundings.
2024-04-10 23:05:23