An outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) has been confirmed in the village of Mzeze, in Tirana.
The news has been confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture through an official announcement, where it is known that the center has been quarantined in order to isolate and prevent the spread of the infection. In the announcement of the ministry, it is stated that the Institute of Public Health has been notified to carry out the necessary procedures for the control and assessment of the risk to people.
Since October 30, farmers have been prohibited from moving poultry from farms in the areas of the Municipalities: Tirana, Vorë and Kamëz.
The ministry has also banned the sale and trading of live birds in open spaces and live animal markets. It has also been decided to ban the movement of live birds to the slaughterhouse without the authorization of the official veterinarian, after the PCR test was performed and the birds were negative for the disease. These birds must be accompanied by the health certificate for the movement of birds, in the Municipality of Tirana, Kamëz and Vorë.
Announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the framework of transparency and public information, immediately after receiving confirmation from the Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine about the presence of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) disease for a center identified as a backyard farm family, established the National Crisis Center, which held its first meeting today, pursuant to Ministerial Order No. 885, 30.10.2024.
For efficient and immediate control of the situation on the ground, this morning, representatives of MBZHR and AKVMB closely inspected the outbreak identified as positive, in Mzeze Village, Kashar Administrative Unit. The Veterinary Service supervised and monitored through sampling other small family farms, present in the protection and surveillance area, to send them without delay to the Reference Laboratory - ISUV. Minister's Order No. is in force. 411 dated 20.09.2022 "For the approval of the contingency plan for the Avian Influenza disease", which defines the modalities of keeping the disease under control, and Order No. 177, dated 28.03.2023 "On the approval of the national surveillance program of Avian Influenza".
The Veterinary Service of AKVMB has quarantined the center and the protection and surveillance areas, in order to isolate and prevent the spread of the infection.
The Institute of Public Health has been notified to carry out the necessary procedures for risk control and assessment.
From today, we inform farmers, breeders of poultry of any species, that the movement of poultry from farms in the areas of the Municipalities: Tirana, Vorë and Kamëz, is prohibited, in accordance with Ministerial Order No. 886, dated 30.10.2024 "On taking restrictive measures for the prevention and control of avian influenza disease in poultry, in open environments and in live animal markets", which defines:
- Prohibition of the sale and trading of live birds in open spaces and live animal markets,
– Prohibition of movement of live poultry from farm to farm and from farm to live animal markets
- Not allowing the movement of live birds to the slaughterhouse without the authorization of the official veterinarian, after the PCR test was performed and the birds were negative for the avian influenza disease. These birds must be accompanied by the health certificate for the movement of birds, in the Municipality of Tirana, Kamëz and Vorë.
We instruct poultry farmers throughout the country to take measures to implement biosecurity on farms and environments where they breed poultry, as well as to carry out the movement of poultry for commercial purposes, only after being authorized by the Official Veterinarian of the Service with the Veterinary Movement Certificate. Animals.
For any case of doubt, immediate communication with the regional veterinary service is required, non-manipulation of suspect birds, as well as for the sake of time, contact with AKVMB at the green number 08003366, or at the e-mail address: info@akvmb.gov. al.
For public communication with the consumer, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development informs that the situation of guaranteeing the food safety chain is under control. Until now, there is no epidemiological and scientific evidence that this virus is transmitted through the consumption of products of animal origin, and it is recommended that the consumption of these products be done after heat treatment, with high temperatures above 75 oC.
Also, the Ministry of Health and Human Welfare made the official announcement of the disease in the Animal Disease Information System of the EU (ADIS) and in the disease outbreak reporting system (WAHIS) of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) in order notification of the disease in neighboring countries and in Europe.