Avian flu, Ministry of Agriculture/ There are no new doubts and reconfirmations about Avian Influenza

The Ministry of Agriculture informs the general public that there are no new suspicions or reconfirmations of Avian Influenza in the Republic of Albania. In the weekly period of October 30 - November 7, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development continued monitoring in the villages of the 3 km surveillance zone and the 10 km protection zone, to check and inventory 3,935 poultry farms of different sizes. From the physical control of the birds in these farms, the health condition has been presented without concerns regarding the clinical framework of Avian Influenza. The National and Regional Crisis Centers have continued daily reporting and coordination until the case is closed and the positive outbreak is released from quarantine.

For early detection and limitation of the spread of the disease, the veterinary service of AKVMB has received and sent to ISUV 209 samples for analysis around the 3 km and 10 km radius. In implementation of the Active Surveillance Program for the third phase that started in October for the Avian Influenza Disease, 140 samples from other regions, namely Elbasan, Korçë, Shkodër, Lezhë, Dibër, Fier, have arrived at the Reference Laboratory - ISUV. The Food Safety and Veterinary Institute informs that the results of the analyzes until 6.11.2024 have been NEGATIVE for Avian Influenza with the confirmatory RT-PCR method.

The National Food Authority informs that it has continued monitoring for the entire Tirana district, where no problems have been detected with the marketing of food products of animal origin and specifically from poultry. The control was exercised in 22 commercial entities of eggs, chicken meat and restaurants.

The Institute of Public Health informs that it is continuously monitoring the health situation in people, where to date there have been no notifications or suspected cases of similar respiratory symptoms. Also, the PIH is in constant contact with family doctors.

MBZHR informs the consumer to consume products certified and controlled by the relevant authorities, to maintain hygienic conditions, as well as to ensure thermal treatment at high temperatures during the consumption of products of animal origin. Awareness and cooperation is required from farmers and distributors of all categories, to increase biosecurity measures, to limit the contact of their birds with wild birds to reduce the risk of exposure and to contact without delay the green number of AKVMB 08003366, or the address of e-mail: [email protected].

According to published information, the process of free vaccination for farm animals by the Veterinary Service is continuing. For 2024, the National Veterinary and Plant Protection Authority has received and distributed in the Elbasan, Shkodër, Tirana and Vlora Regional Directorates 131,000 doses of vaccines against Anthrax in the areas where there have been cases, tracking is being carried out Tuberculosis in all heads of cattle throughout the country, two stages of tracking brucellosis in cattle have been carried out and during the month of November, the third stage is being developed with the sending of samples to the laboratory. Also, 300,000 doses of REV-1 vaccine (ocurev) have been distributed to apply for immunization against brucellosis disease in small ruminants: sheep and goats. The administration of veterinary prophylaxis for both diseases is in the process, with progress as follows: - 45.3% of the total, with the vaccination of all farm animals in the Plasje foci; – 1,400 doses of REV-1 vaccine in small quantities, at the country level. - TBC tracking at the national level has so far been carried out in 49,189 heads.