HPAI Detected in Commercial Turkey Flock in Sweden
29.11.2020 01:20 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
Following are selected highlights from a report issued by a U. S. Department of Agriculture attache in The Hague, on November 17, 2020, the Swedish Board of Agriculture reported a finding of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus on a commercial poultry farm. The Swedish poultry sector exports only small volumes of broiler meat to non-EU destinations. Background On November 6, 2020, the Swedish Board of Agriculture (the Board) raised the required biosecurity level for poultry farms to minimize the risk for transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) from wild birds. One of the requirements is that poultry in Sweden are to be kept indoors. On November 13, due to high mortality, HPAI was suspected on a turkey farm, with nearly 5,000 birds, in the municipality of Ystad, in the southeast of Sweden. On November 17, the Swedish Board of Agriculture confirmed (in Swedish) a finding of the HPAI virus, type H5N8, on the farm. The Board stated that the source of infection for the outbreak is not known at present, but transmission from wild birds is the most likely source. The outbreak was notified to the European Union (EU) and the World Organization for Animal Health. The culling of the birds was finalized on November 17. Protection and surveillance zones of 3 km (for sampling and testing of avian influenza) and 10 km (for transport restrictions) were established around the affected enterprise. There are three commercial poultry farms within the 10 km zone (but outside the 3 km zone). The affected farm and the three farms in the 10 km zone do not export poultry products to other countries. Trade Implications Taking into account the epidemiological investigations, the Swedish Government decided to implement regionalization of the export limitations. Accordingly, Sweden has stopped all export of live poultry, hatching eggs, and non-heated poultry products in accordance with EU legislation from the Southeastern municipalities of Ystad, Skurup, Sjöbo, Tomelilla, and Simrishamn to countries outside the EU, unless otherwise agreed with the country of destination. The Swedish poultry sector only exports small volumes of broiler meat to non-EU destinations (totaling 7,050 MT in 2019 the eighteenth largest exporter in the EU). Its main export destinations are South Korea (1,900 MT in 2019), and Hong Kong (1,200 MT). The country exports even less turkey meat (1,491 MT in 2019 all to EU Member States).
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