Brussels, 09/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - An outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus is currently affecting Germany and Poland. On Wednesday 9 January, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health validated measures that had been taken by these two member states to control and eradicate the epizooty.
Since 1 December 2007, Poland has reported 9 outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry. The most recent outbreak appeared two weeks ago in a laying hen flock in Sadlowo Parcele in the district of Zurominski (120 km north-west of Warsaw) where the H5N1 virus was recently detected. The Polish authorities have applied Community protection measures (slaughter of poultry in contaminated flocks, ban on transport of poultry and bio-security measures around farms). On 26 December, Germany reported a third case of H5N1 (since mid-December) in a poultry farm in the Brandenburg region. Berlin has respected Community legislation on fighting bird flu. (L.C.)