Veterinary Service warns on bird flu threat

The State Veterinary Service warns that bird flu is again a threat, once the weather gets warmer, although no cases were reported so far, Info-Prim Neo reports. Interim chief doctor of the State Veterinary Service Radu Mudreac told a City Hall session today that the prevention of an outbreak of bird flu in Chisinau municipality consists in not allowing contacts of fowls with wild birds and daily inspections at poultry farms. According to Mudreac, vets take prevention measures by advising owners of poultry to keep the birds closed and by inspecting conditions in poultry farms. They also ensure the stock of necessary preparations for preventing avian flu. Doctors warn that any person who finds a dead bird must announce the Veterinary Service or local authorities. Only veterinarians are authorised to establish, based on lab tests, whether there are elements of suspicion. A notification, which entails the passing to the state of official supervision, is being issued in case of positive results. Specialists say that if an outbreak of bird flu occurs, stray dogs may pose a serious threat, becoming active carriers of the virus if they eat birds that died of avian flu. The risks are even greater due to the fact that dogs lack immunity to this illness. .