The European Commission has announced plans to adopt emergency measures aimed at curbing the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Poland, following a significant surge in outbreaks over the past two months. Poland has reported 73 confirmed HPAI outbreaks within the last two months, with a concentration of 53 cases in the Masovian and Greater Poland regions. This escalation has raised concerns about the potential impact on the country's poultry industry and public health.

In response to the alarming situation, a spokesperson for the European Commission stated that additional emergency measures are necessary in the high-risk areas to strengthen prevention and control efforts. These measures are scheduled to be adopted by the Commission next week and aim to protect the broader Polish poultry industry by mitigating the spread of the virus. While specific details of the emergency measures have not been disclosed, the Commission has engaged in discussions with national and regional authorities in Poland, who have agreed to the proposed actions. The Polish agriculture ministry has yet to comment on the forthcoming measures.

The recent spike in bird flu cases in Poland reflects a wider trend observed across the European Union. Since the onset of the migratory season on August 1, EU countries have reported a total of 62 outbreaks on poultry farms, a significant increase compared to the same period in previous years. Hungary and Poland have been notably affected, with Poland's outbreaks leading to the culling of approximately 1.8 million birds, including nearly 1.4 million on a single farm in Sroda Wielkopolska. The implementation of these emergency measures underscores the European Commission's commitment to addressing the escalating bird flu situation in Poland and safeguarding the continent's poultry industry from further disruption.

Source: Reuters