Twenty-five outbreaks of bird flu were reported in the country in the last week of December and in the first two days of this year. The National Food Safety Agency urges the population to keep birds inside yards and to immediately notify the veterinarian if they notice clinical signs of the disease, IPN reports.

According to the Agency, 15 outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) were registered in the wildlife habitat, while the others – in birds from nonprofessional farms. As a result, the Exceptional Antipiezootic Commission was urgently convened and approved a plan of measures to combat and eradicate the outbreak of avian influenza. Consequently, protection zones of 3 kilometers and surveillance zones of 10 kilometers were set up.

On December 22, the Chisinau Commission for Emergency Situations declared a state of emergency in the municipality in connection with the detection by the National Food Safety Agency of outbreaks of bird flu.

Among the limitations imposed by the authorities during the state of emergency are the restriction of domestic birds’ access to meadows, lakes, rivers, etc., and the stepping up of measures to combat illegal street trading in food products or live animals. In the period, exhibitions, fairs with the sale of live animals (birds, including decorative ones) are prohibited.

Specialists warn that bird flu is a highly contagious infection that can also be transmitted to humans. That’s why particular measures to prevent the disease are also important, such as compliance with veterinary hygiene rules in domestic animal shelters, with personal hygiene rules, etc.