Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 10/14/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** RO5012

RO5012

**Romania**

**Poultry and Products**

**Avian Influenza in Romania**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Brian Goggin

U.S. Embassy Romania

**Prepared by:**

Monica Dobrescu

**Report Highlights:**

On October 13, laboratory tests confirmed Avian Influenza of the H5 type
is present in Romania. Confirmation tests for pathogenicity are expected
from a reference laboratory in the United Kingdom in a few days. On
October 7, tests from a backyard flock of ducks and hens in
Ceamurlia-de-Jos, Tulcea County, in the Danube Delta region tested
positive for influenza. The Romanian Government fears that subsequent
testing will reveal that it is H5N1, the type causing severe human
mortality in Asia.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Sofia \[BU1\]

\[RO\]

# 

# Suspicion of AI virus 

On October 7, 2005, an outbreak of suspicion of avian influenza was
reported in a backyard flock of 53 chickens/hens and 47 ducks in
Ceamurlia-de-Jos, Tulcea County, in the eastern part of the country. In
this flock, 40 ducks and 1 chicken died, while the other poultry had no
clinical signs of disease. The samples were taken from 3 ducks and 2
chickens and transported to the Institute for Diagnosis and Animal
Health in Bucharest; blood samples from one duck and from one chicken
tested positive.

The Danube delta, where Ceamurlia de Jos is located, contains Europe\'s
largest wetlands and is a major migratory area for wild birds coming
from Russia, Scandinavia, Poland and Germany. The birds mainly move to
warmer areas in North Africa including the Nile delta for winter.

As soon as the samples tested positive, the Romanian veterinary
authorities took strong measures to prevent the disease from spreading,
such as culling, disinfecting, and establishing a quarantine zone. The
Romanian Veterinary estimated that about 45,000 birds would be culled
during this operation. Hunting was also banned in the Danube Delta. The
Ministry of Health started vaccination against human flu on all
population living in the community of Ceamurlia-de-Jos.

On October 12, 2005, the Romanian veterinary could still not isolate the
virus. Based on this information, EC reported that Avian Influenza has
not been reported in Romania and no import restrictions had been taken.

# AI virus has been confirmed 

On October 13, 2005, the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture announced that
further tests confirmed that AI virus of H5 type has been isolated. In
order to detect its pathogenicity, in the afternoon of October 13, the
virus extract has been sent for further research and identification to
the EU Reference Laboratory in Weybridge, Great Britain. According to
the Romanian Institute for Diagnosis and Animal Health it is likely that
the AI virus is of H5N1 strain. Confirmation tests for the virus
pathogenicity are expected from Weybridge in a couple of days.

Within the quarantine zone, all birds are to be culled. The authorities
have also extended the area under permanent veterinary surveillance to a
radius of 10 kilometers. This means that all birds in this area are
counted, more samples are collected, and all movement of animals is
prohibited. The area under veterinary surveillance includes 8 other
villages. Severe measures have been imposed at the border as well. All
trucks and cars entering Romania are disinfected.

Ministry of Health has taken the measure to vaccinate the human
population with high risk to infection, especially for poultry breeders,
elderly, and children.

On October 13, 2005, the first birds' owners who recorded losses during
the culling procedure have received compensations from the Romanian
Government. Shipments of food have also been supplied to the quarantine
zone. The compensation process will continue for the rest of households
in the respective locality. The budgetary efforts for compensations are
estimated to about \$270,000 (about 10 bln. ROL).

As of October 14, about 6,500 birds have been culled, of which about
5,300 chickens, 530 ducks, 300 geese and 350 turkeys, which belong to
111 households in Ceamurlia-de-Jos.

# Economic Impact on Domestic Poultry producers and Trade

Following the announcement on the suspicion Avian Influenza, the sales
volume of poultry meat immediately decreased to 60% of regular sales.
Although Government authorities and the Poultry Producers Association
publicly emphasized that proper poultry cooking prevent infection and
poultry meat supplied by veterinary certified establishments and shops
is safe, only little improvement was observed. At national level,
restrictions on poultry genetic material movement were also imposed,
affecting more the domestic producers.

# Import restrictions 

As a result of AI confirmation in Romania, starting with October 14, the
EU Commission banned the imports of live birds, meat and poultry
products from Romania. However, this measure will have only a small
effect on the market compared to the domestic sales reduction, as
Romanian poultry meat exports to EU are valued at about 4,000 MT (1.6%
of the domestic poultry production) worth of \$15 million. Poultry meat
preparations under heat treatment will still be allowed for export.

This measure comes in addition to similar measure taken by other
countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Hetzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Greece, and Kosovo.

FAS Bucharest has maintained close contact with the Romanian Veterinary
Authority and has received specific requests for equipment and supplies.
The Agency for International Development (AID) has pledged support
through the current technical assistance program with USDA.