#12,429
On Tuesday, in Rosselkhoznadzor: Avian Flu Infected Poultry Products Discovered In Krasnodar, we looked a cryptic report from Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance that potentially avian flu contaminated poultry products had been shipped from neighboring Rostov to Krasnodar.
Two weeks ago (see Russia: Rosselkhoznadzor Reports Bird Flu Outbreak In Rostov Region), we learned of a large avian flu outbreak at the nation's largest turkey producer.While there have been some Russian language media reports on this event, very little else has appeared on official government websites. Today, however, we've a (translated) press release from the State Administration of Veterinary Krasnodar Region that fills in some of the missing details from Tuesday's report.
- First we learn, as previously suspected, that the Rostov Outbreak was HPAI H5.
- Second, we now know that products were shipped from this poultry plant to wholesale and retail entities across the Krasnodar Region
- And third, we learn that samples tested from these shipped products have tested positive for the avian flu virus.
In other words, it's a mess.
Measures have been taken!
May 2, 2017
The State Veterinary Administration of the Krasnodar Territory informs that on 21 April 2017 a poultry house located in the Oktyabrsky district of the Rostov Region revealed a highly pathogenic avian influenza (subtype H5, class A).
In order to prevent the occurrence of avian influenza in the territory of the Kuban, the veterinary service of the Krai has carried out work to identify cases of receipt of poultry products obtained from the slaughter of poultry grown at the enterprise.
As a result, the products were identified at a number of retail wholesale and retail enterprises in the cities of Krasnodar, Novorossiysk and Sochi, as well as in the Kurganinsky, Tikhoretsk and Tuapse districts.
Based on the results of laboratory tests of samples taken from the detected lots, the products infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza were identified. According to preliminary information, the total number of infected products was about 30 tons.
In spite of the promptly taken actions, from a number of enterprises the contaminated products have left in an unknown direction. As a result, the State Veterinary Department of the Krai prepared and sent materials to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Krasnodar Territory on the need to conduct measures to establish the location of these products, and sent materials to the prosecutor's office to agree on the conduct of unscheduled field inspections of these enterprises.
In addition, economic entities were issued requirements for the withdrawal of hazardous products from circulation.
At present, experts of the veterinary service have already destroyed 611 kg of dangerous products.
It should be noted that all measures are taken by the veterinary service of the province in accordance with the veterinary legislation of the Russian Federation
© Press service of public administration of the Krasnodar Territory Veterinary
While the public health risks from these contaminated products is likely very low, it is not zero, and these loose contaminated products have the potential to spread the virus (assuming it is still viable) to other poultry farms in the region.
If nothing else, this incident should remind us of the importance of stringent farm biosecurity, and the need to test and track products, as we learn to deal with these emerging viral threats to our global food production systems.
