World meat industry news

For the Russian poultry industry, an unfavorable forecast for 2023 was given for the development of an epizootic situation with highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The forecast for 2023 for the poultry industry in Russia regarding the development of an epizootic situation with highly pathogenic avian influenza (AHI) is unfavorable, Viktor Irza, chief expert of the Federal Center for Animal Health (FGBI ARRIAH, Rosselkhoznadzor), said in an interview with Veterinary and Life.

“For the Russian poultry industry, the forecast for the development of the epizootic situation for highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2023 is unfavorable, since the situation with this disease has seriously worsened in the world and this disease has been registered in many countries. Some rise is noted in Europe, but South America is the epicenter of outbreaks,” the scientist said.

The expert drew attention to the fact that avian influenza was first registered in South America. Also, foci of this disease are recorded in neighboring countries. So, the outbreak was detected in Turkey, for the first time since 2015.

New outbreaks continue to be identified in Japan.

At the same time, in some areas, the epizootic is fading, the scientist noted. For example, in North America.

“But Europe and South America remain for us such points that speak of a serious epizootic situation in the world and, accordingly, a serious threat to the Russian Federation, especially on the eve of the spring migration of wild birds,” the source of the “Vizh” emphasized.

As Veterinary and Life previously reported, from the beginning of the year to February 25, more than 1,000 foci of avian influenza were detected in the EU countries.

In Russia, in January-February of this year, 7 outbreaks were registered in 6 regions of the country. In 2022, 56 outbreaks were detected in the Russian Federation in 17 regions, losses for the Russian poultry industry amounted to more than 1 million birds.

Last year, four poultry farms were affected by avian influenza: AgroPlus LLC in the Stavropol Territory, the Dergachi-Ptitsa poultry farm in the Saratov Region, the Komsomolskaya poultry farm in the Khabarovsk Territory, and the Ostrovnaya poultry farm in the Sakhalin Region.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by damage to the circulatory and central nervous systems, respiratory organs, digestion, excretion and egg production.

Clinical signs in birds: decreased productivity, depression, refusal of food and water, ruffled plumage, cyanosis of the skin, swelling of the intermaxillary space, subcutaneous hemorrhages on the limbs, impaired coordination of movements, sinusitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, diarrhea.