WattAgNet: Russia, Germany report new avian flu outbreaks

Flock of 5,000 in Russian Republic of Tatarstan, backyard flock of 13 chickens in Germany are the latest cases

While the number of new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among European poultry has dropped off markedly, both Russia and Germany have reported new cases in the last week. The HPAI virus was also confirmed last week in a wild bird in Bulgaria.

The Republic of Tatarstan is the location of the latest outbreak of HPAI caused by the H5N8 virus in Russia. More than 5,000 birds of a flock of almost 480,000 died, according to the report from the national veterinary authority to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

After an absence of about one month, the same virus has returned to Germany, affecting a backyard flock of 13 chickens in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

UK to press ahead with lifting of restrictions
Despite two new HPAI outbreaks confirmed in north-west England last week, the government agriculture department, Defra, says the restrictions set up under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone are still scheduled to be lifted today, May 15, for most of the country. The move follows a risk assessment by the chief veterinarian.

A new prevention zwill cover certain areas of Lancashire, Cumbria and Merseyside, where poultry owners will have to continue to follow specific disease prevention measures to reduce the risk of the HPAI virus being transmitted by wild birds. Outside these areas, industry best practice on biosecurity should be followed.