VMVT warns poultry farmers about Newcastle disease: outbreak recorded in Latvia

A case of Newcastle disease has been confirmed in a commercial poultry farm in neighbouring Latvia, the State Food and Veterinary Service (SVVT) announced on Thursday.

An outbreak of the disease has been recorded near the Latvia-Lithuania border, it said.

With the disease spreading very close to Lithuania, the service warns that there is a real risk of the virus entering our country. Poultry keepers are therefore urged to be extra vigilant and to strictly comply with biosecurity requirements on their farms. 

„The main preventive measure against this disease – strict biosecurity and protection of poultry from contact with wild birds. Newcastle disease virus is spread not only through migratory wild birds but also through contaminated transport, footwear, equipment and other indirect contacts. Therefore, it is essential to strictly observe hygiene rules, regularly disinfect housing areas and limit the access of unauthorised persons," the VMVT said in a statement.

The Authority also noted that vaccination against Newcastle disease helps reduce the spread of the disease. In Lithuania, this is carried out on a voluntary basis on commercial farms.

According to the MoHFW, the highest number of cases of the disease this year has been recorded in neighbouring Poland (95) and Germany (61), with outbreaks in the Czech Republic (25), Spain (7) and Slovakia (1). 

In Lithuania, the disease was detected in February this year on a farm in Vilnius district, where more than 40 poultry were kept.