Veterinary Service on Bird Flu Alert

Potential bird flu outbreaks put Moldova’s veterinary watchdog and poultry factories on alert. Producers have been endowed with equipment and disinfectants for preventing influenza outbreaks, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry announces. Veterinary inspectors of the central and territorial Veterinary Service undertaken a series of controls at the poultry factories due to the concerning situation in the world regarding the bird flu virus. According to International Epizooties Office, the virus was registered in 54 countries of the world, the last foci being registered in countries from Asia, Africa, in Hungary, Russia, and Great Britain. Moldova ceased imports of poultry meat and spring chickens from the countries where the virus was detected. Poultry factories were compelled to restrict access, and individual farmers were advised to breed fowls in isolation in order to avoid their contact with the wild birds. The Veterinary Medicine Department daily collects information about the epizooty situation throughout the country. The State Sanitary Service in concert with local public authorities are tracing sick or dead birds, both wild and domestic. About 10 thousand samples were tested since February 6, taken from the wild and domestic birds. The result was negative in all the cases. Owing to the financial support of UNICEF and USAID, training courses on the prevention of bird flu were organised. The World Bank provided protection and disinfection equipment, as well as disinfectants. 2 satellite laboratories were installed in Drochia and Cahul.