Poland overcame the bird flu epidemic

Poland has had to wipe out 11 million birds as a result of an avian influenza (AI) epidemic this year, but it looks like the worst is over.

The epidemic is clearly on the wane, with the number of outbreaks more than halved in recent weeks to 10 between May 13 and May 16, chief veterinarian Miroslav Welz said at a recent press conference. According to him, the disease is likely to be completely eradicated in Poland within the next few weeks.

Poland has had to wipe out 11 million birds as a result of an avian influenza (AI) epidemic this year, but the worst of times seems to be behind us. 

Changes in weather patterns appear to have changed the game significantly, Welz said, as wild birds no longer seek out the warmest places to live by congregating in large flocks where they become infected and then migrate to spread the virus to farm birds. .

Poland has reported 326 bird flu outbreaks this year. France, with nearly 500 outbreaks, is the only country in Europe where bird flu has hit the poultry industry the hardest.

“Precise data are not yet available, but it can be assumed that the losses are large. It can be assumed that they will cost several hundred million zlotys,” Katarzyna Gavrońska, DIRECTOR of the National Chamber of Poultry Breeders and Feed Producers, told the local press.

However, bird flu continues to affect the industry in different ways. Currently, the average wholesale price for broilers in the country has reached record levels - from 4.30 to 4.60 zlotys (1.16-1.24 US dollars ) per kilogram. Market participants said that this is at least 20% higher than the average for past years, and, in fact, this is the usual price for turkey MEAT.

“The bird flu virus has had long-term consequences for the entire poultry industry this year. We have never seen so many outbreaks and therefore such huge loss of poultry. It is estimated that about 2 million birds from the parent flock have been culled, which will certainly affect the price of eggs,” said Przemysław Grenzhlikowski, regional manager of the De Heus broiler department, adding that chick prices will also rise.