Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 4/27/2006

**GAIN Report Number:** PL6023

PL0000

**Poland**

**Sanitary/Phytosanitary/Food Safety**

**Current Status of AI Outbreaks in Poland**

**2006**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Ed Porter, Agricultural Counselor

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

EP, PR

**Report Highlights:**

Since April 4, 2006, there have been no additional outbreaks of HPAI
(H5N1) in Poland. There have been no outbreaks at all of HPAI in
domestic poultry. Following a 30 day quarantine zone rule, the Polish
Veterinary Service has closed two out of the eight AI quarantine zones
established in Poland to date.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Warsaw \[PL1\]

\[PL\]

From March 2 to April 4, 2006 there were eight outbreaks of HPAI (H5N1
strain) in Poland. Since April 4, 2006, there have been no new outbreaks
and there have been no outbreaks of AI in domestic poultry flocks. The
majority of outbreaks have occurred in wild swans in two large cities,
Torun and Bydgoszcz, 50 kilometers apart, located on the banks of the
Vistula River in the northern central part of Poland.

In response to each outbreak, local veterinary authorities took prompt
and effective action to prevent the spread of the disease. Their actions
included:

\- Carried out contingency plans established in advance;

-   Created three kilometers radius (2 miles) infected area and 10
    kilometers (6 miles) radius surveillance zones;

-   Created special patrols to count poultry and police compliance with
    a ban on free-ranging birds in the surrounding countryside; and

\- Placed disinfectant mats at entrances to quarantine zones.

On April 18-22 in Tarnow (southern Poland), the Veterinary Service
carried out training for 170 participants from all over the country
(veterinary, police, fire, military and local authorities). During the
training, there was a simulation of an outbreak of AI in a commercial
laying flock. During this exercise, 400 birds were put to sleep using
carbon dioxide. The dead birds were rendered and the poultry house and
all equipment and participants were disinfected. The Veterinary Service
reportedly were very satisfied with this training. The simulation was
conducted despite protests from animal welfare organizations.

Veterinary officials have closed two quarantine zones, one in
Swinoujscie (April 10, 2006) and the other in Torun (April 18, 2006)
because there were no new cases of AI in these areas for 30 days. Both
areas are now considered AI free.

There are six AI quarantine zones remaining in Poland: three in
Bydgoszcz, two in Grudziadz and one in Kostrzyn. The threat of AI from
migrating wild birds is expected to last until the end of May. Below is
a table summarizing HPAI outbreaks in Poland to date:

HPAI Outbreaks in Poland.

+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+
| Nu   | Type   | Date of outbreak | Location                         |
| mber | of     |                  |                                  |
| of   | animal |                  |                                  |
| case |        |                  |                                  |
+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+
| 1    | 5      | March 2 to March | Torun -- Kujawsko Pomorskie      |
|      | swans  | 20               | Province - 150 kilometers North  |
|      |        |                  | West from Warsaw; Vistula River  |
|      | 32     |                  | bank; center of the city         |
|      | swans  |                  |                                  |
|      |        |                  | After testing entire flock of    |
|      |        |                  | swans kept in quarantine the CVO |
|      |        |                  | decided to put to sleep 32 swans |
|      |        |                  | infected with HPAI and the rest  |
|      |        |                  | was set at liberty.              |
+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+
| 2    | 2      | March 8 and      | Kostrzyn- Lubuskie Province;     |
|      | swans  | March 17         | Warta River bank Kostrzyn lies   |
|      |        |                  | at the edge of the Mouth of the  |
|      | hawk   | n/a              | Warta National Park, one of      |
|      |        |                  | Europe\'s largest wetland        |
|      | heron  | March 31         | nesting areas of migratory       |
|      |        |                  | waterfowl.                       |
+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+
| 3    | goo    | March 8          | Swinoujscie at the Wolin Island  |
|      | sander |                  | in North Western Poland -- West  |
|      |        |                  | Pomerania Province               |
+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+
| 4    | 4      | March 8,16,19    | Bydgoszcz City -- Kujawsko       |
|      | swans  |                  | Pomorskie Province; on the bank  |
|      |        |                  | of Brda River; 200 kilometers    |
|      |        |                  | North West from Warsaw           |
+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+
| 5    | 13     | March            | Bydgoszcz City -- Kujawsko       |
|      | swans  | 14,19,21,23,24   | Pomorskie Province; on the bank  |
|      |        |                  | of Brda River; 200 kilometers    |
|      |        |                  | North West from Warsaw           |
+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+
| 6    | 2      | March 24 and 6   | Bydgoszcz City -- Kujawsko       |
|      | swans  | April            | Pomorskie Province;              |
+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+
| 7    | swan   | March 27         | Grudziadz City -- Kujawsko       |
|      |        |                  | Pomorskie Province; Lake Rzadz   |
+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+
| 8    | swan   | 4 April          | Bialachowo near Grudziadz City   |
|      |        |                  | -- Kujawsko Pomorskie Province   |
+------+--------+------------------+----------------------------------+