Avian influenza is a problem not only in Poland
15.02.2021
The end and the beginning of the year have been a time of anxiety in the poultry industry in recent years. It is, of course, avian influenza HPAI, i.e. highly pathogenic avian influenza and the subtype H5Nx. Avian influenza is a viral disease of poultry of very great economic importance for Poland as the EU leader in poultry production, in particular. Losses caused by the appearance of this disease are not only diseases and, consequently, high mortality in domestic birds.
Much more significant consequences are in international trade. The appearance of at least one outbreak causes the suspension of all exports of poultry and poultry products from all over the country (such a policy is pursued by the Russian Federation, for example) or the restrictions apply to a given region (Hong Kong is an example here). In the last flu season, 2019/2020, avian influenza appeared on December 30 and the last outbreak was found on March 31, 2020. In total, 35 outbreaks of influenza caused by the H5N8 virus were found in poultry and 1 case in a wild bird. In the current season, the first exploratory bonfire will take place on November 24, 2020. Until February 15 this year. a total of 38 outbreaks were recorded, which is one more than in the period. Assuming that the situation calms down at the turn of March / April, there are a lot of nervous days left. The most difficult situation in Europe is in France, where only from 1 January this year. 367 HPAI outbreaks have already been detected in poultry. France, which ranks third in the EU in poultry meat production with its 12% share, still remembers about 30 million ducks being slaughtered in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. For comparison, only 3 outbreaks were found in Sweden, but one of them is the farm of the largest egg producer, and unfortunately over a million birds have been killed. The appearance of avian influenza in Germany resulted in an order to keep poultry inside buildings. According to EU standards, German laying hen farms will lose the status of free-range farms and thus eggs will not be marketed with the number "1". The nervousness of German breeders is all the greater because the Germans changed their purchasing preferences during the lockdown and focused their preferences on free-range and organic eggs.
The difficult and complex situation in the world of eggs and poultry is best shown by the situation in Japan. The Land of the Rising Sun is the largest importer of eggs and egg products from the European Union. Japan had to impose blockades on this import in accordance with its law, and at the same time struggling with bird flu at home, it kills another million hens, thereby increasing the deficit of eggs and poultry on its market. The very strict rules to combat HPAI combined with globalization and intercontinental transport are likely to lead to the revision of many provisions.