The Ministry of Agriculture urges Lithuanian poultry keepers to consider importing poultry from Poland in view of the 14 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial farms in Poland in January this year, and the fact that cases have also been recorded in three small Polish farms. It also suggests temporarily refraining from visiting Polish farms after assessing the potential risks.

Bird flu – already in Lithuania

In Lithuania, the first outbreak of avian influenza of this year was confirmed on 28 January in Šilutė district (UAB "Vilkyčių paukštynas"), where more than 246,000 laying hens were kept. Avian influenza virus has also been confirmed in a swan that died on 24 January in the Alytus region.

Lithuania cannot ban imports of poultry and poultry products from a European Union (EU) country where avian influenza has been detected. Trade in these products is only banned from areas of the EU country where avian influenza is detected, so poultry farmers themselves must take precautionary and protective measures. Both Polish and Lithuanian control authorities will only issue permits for the transport of birds from farms outside the areas affected by avian influenza.

„Lithuania and Poland have intensive trade relations, and outbreaks of avian influenza in the neighbouring country, which are spreading rapidly and causing significant economic losses, pose a serious threat to the Lithuanian poultry industry. Therefore, both business and private persons in trade relations with Poland should responsibly assess the potential risks when importing poultry or other products that may be infected with the virus, and when visiting Polish facilities where birds are kept. We need to be extremely careful to prevent the infection from reaching our country. Let's protect Lithuanian poultry farming," said Saulius Jasius, Director of the Department for Sustainable Agricultural Production and Food Industry at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Healthy birds get this fast-spreading disease by eating contaminated feed or drinking contaminated water. Avian influenza is also transmitted by indirect contact through the excretions of infected birds, especially faeces, contaminated feed, water, equipment, clothing, footwear or other objects. There is a possibility of transmission via transport.

The latest outbreaks of avian influenza have been recorded in the Polish regions of Puławy, Tarnowskie Góry, Kluczbork, Lubliniec and Góra. Control measures have been implemented by isolating infected holdings and destroying infected birds and their products.

In order to protect poultry farms from avian influenza, the MAFF reminds that:

• during the migration of poultry, poultry must be kept indoors or in enclosures with canopies to prevent contact with migratory wild birds;
• feed intended for poultry must be stored in such a way that it is protected from wild birds, rodents and other animals that may mechanically transmit the virus;
• water from open water bodies must not be used for feeding poultry;
• domestic geese and ducks must be kept separate from other poultry;
• do not visit other poultry houses and avoid direct contact with wild birds.