Hungary is once again free of highly pathogenic bird flu

By: STA Date: 2023. 07. 10. 09:30

According to the relevant regulations of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), Hungary regained its freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza. The favorable status for the entire country allows for unimpeded trade of live poultry and poultry products with individual third countries.

(Photo: Pixabay)

WOAH has officially confirmed our country’s freedom from highly pathogenic bird flu on its website. The favorable classification is valid retroactively from June 28, so it already applies to poultry products made after that. The national chief veterinarian Dr. Szabolcs Pásztor informs the competent authorities of the partner countries about the exemption in an official letter in order to lift the import restrictions. It is important that with the recovery of our exemption, deliveries to third countries cannot start automatically, but must wait for their feedback. Stakeholders can find up-to-date commercial information about third countries on the Nébih website.

However, regaining the exemption does not mean that the epidemic prevention discipline can be relaxed

The virus is still present in wild birds, so there is a high risk that it will reappear in poultry flocks. That is why it is extremely important that livestock keepers comply with the minimum epidemic prevention conditions, thus minimizing the direct or indirect contact of poultry with wild birds. Currently, the provisions requiring feeding and drinking in covered places, preferably closed from the side, are still valid throughout the country. Feed and litter must be stored in a closed place, or the latter must be covered with foil so that wild birds cannot access it. You can read information and current information about bird flu on the thematic page of Nébih.

Nébih

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