EU Member States unanimously supported, on Thursday 16 January, a European Commission proposal consolidating the protective measures in relation to outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of subtype H5N8, which are affecting four EU Member States: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
The virus, likely introduced by wild migratory birds which can carry it during their seasonal movements, was first reported in Poland on 31 December 2019. It has caused a total of 16 outbreaks of HPAI in poultry farms, affecting a variety of poultry species (ducks, geese, turkeys, hens).
The measures introduced aim to protect the rest of the EU and non-Member States by ensuring the continuation of safe trade without jeopardising the sanitary status of the EU.
In total, it is estimated that around 300,000 birds have already been affected by the virus since the beginning of the year in these Member States. In all cases, the usual control measures have been put in place: containment zone, movement restrictions and stamping-out. Some non-Member States, including South Africa, have already decided to impose temporary embargoes on poultry imports from EU countries affected by the avian flu. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)