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The General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine announced that a third outbreak of bird flu was detected in Portugal, in a turkey farm, in Praia do Ribatejo, Vila Nova da Barquinha (Santarém), having activated the contingency plan.
In a statement, the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV) indicated today that “a third outbreak of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (GAAP) has been confirmed by the National Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Research (national reference laboratory for animal diseases ), exploring turkeys, at Praia do Ribatejo ”, in the municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha.
The two previous outbreaks were detected on December 1st, in a domestic poultry farm in Palmela, and on December 23rd, in a turkey farm in Óbidos, with about 18 thousand birds, there being “a link” between this farm and the third outbreak detected on December 30 in Vila Nova da Barquinha, references the DGAV, noting that the first two outbreaks “are contained, even though under surveillance”.
In the exploration of turkeys at Praia do Ribatejo, the contingency plan has already been activated and control measures are being implemented.
These measures, according to the same note, include a “location to places where the disease was detected and the elimination of affected animals, as well as the reservation to livestock farms existing in the protection zones, within a radius of 03 km around the outbreak, and surveillance notification within a radius of 10 km”.
The authorities have also already proceeded with the “elimination of the affected animals”, which is estimated at around 06 thousand, with the holders of the holdings to be “compensated for the sanitary slaughter of the animals, as provided for in the legislation in force”.
The DGAV recalled that “there is no evidence that avian flu is transmitted to humans through the consumption of food”, such as poultry meat or eggs, bearing in mind that “the workers required to eliminate the registered outbreaks and that they dealt with directly with infected birds have been screened “and are” so far with negative results”.
“The origin of the disease is a regular migration of wild birds in Europe, coming from Asia and eastern Russia, which has allowed the viral circulation and its transmission over long distances”, he added.
Given the “current epidemiological situation”, a DGAV argues that it is important to comply with biosafety rules, as well as good poultry production practices, avoiding contacts between domestic and wild birds.
Hygiene procedures for facilities, equipment and materials must be complied with and a “daily and attentive” observation of poultry, including consumption of water, food and production rates, must be maintained.
“It should be remembered that operators who keep poultry or birds in captivity are primarily responsible for the health status of the animals they hold and, in the event of any suspicion of disease, it must be immediately reported to the DGAV. The early detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (GAAP) infection outbreaks is absolutely essential for a rapid and effective implementation in the field of disease control measures aimed at preventing its spread”, concluded.
DGAV is a central state administration service, with autonomy.