Another 25 000 turkeys will be killed: Second outbreak of avian influenza detected on a farm in Marijampolė

On Friday, the laboratory of the National Institute for Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment confirmed one more case of bird flu on a farm belonging to UAB „Sūduvos ūkis“ in the Marijampolė region, after testing samples. More than 25 000 turkeys have been registered on the farm. Exactly one week ago, the disease was detected on a farm of the same company, but in a different location (only 3 km away).

Primary data show a sharp increase in turkey mortality in poultry houses 1 and 3; around 40 birds died in one house and a similar number in the other. A decrease in water consumption was observed. The situation is very similar to a previous outbreak on the farm of UAB „Sūduvos ūkis“.

The farm had already entered the protection zone. The fact that there are three poultry farms within a 10 km radius of the main avian influenza outbreak is a major threat. One of them, just 3 km away, has two sheds and keeps about 14 000 birds. All these farms are included in the risk area and are under constant surveillance to prevent the spread of the disease.

The protection and surveillance zones have been extended around the infected farm: within a radius of 10 km around the farm, the movement of live birds and their products in and out of the defined zones is prohibited without a separate permit from the VVM Alytus District. Restrictions in the defined zones will apply for at least 30 days after initial disinfection has been carried out.

The farm is instructed to safely kill the remaining live birds and destroy all carcasses, litter and feed and to disinfect the whole area and poultry houses. Traceability of production is ongoing to prevent the spread of the disease.  

The FVO will continue to monitor wild and poultry birds. As a reminder, any deterioration in the health of birds or unusual mortality should be reported immediately to a private veterinarian or to the VMA on telephone number 1879.