Ministry confirms H5N1 bird flu is spreading

2025-03-04 08:22:00, Sociale CNA

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has announced that Avian Influenza, type H5N1, has been confirmed in our country.

The structures of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the relevant subordinate institutions have taken immediate measures, following the notification of the Regional Directorate of Veterinary Medicine and Plant Protection in Tirana, that in the Durrës District, in the entity "Rea's" shpk, located in the village of Maliq Mu?o, Rashbull Administrative Unit, there have been deaths of birds.

The worldwide situation regarding the presence and spread of the viral disease Avian Influenza remains worrying, as this disease has caused massive damage to a large number of poultry, for production, as well as wild birds. According to the World Organizations for Animal Health, Human Health and beyond, there are hundreds of active foci of the virus in poultry and other species.

After confirmation, a meeting of the National Crisis Center was held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Security, and Ministerial Order No. 200, dated 3.3.2025 "On taking restrictive measures for the prevention and control of Avian Influenza disease in poultry, in open environments and live animal markets" immediately entered into force.

Regarding the case, we inform the public that central and regional structures have placed the farm in quarantine, where official samples were taken and sent within the day for analysis to the Food Safety and Veterinary Institute.

The National Veterinary and Plant Protection Authority has previously announced on its official website the detection and follow-up of all veterinary protocols for taking timely measures.
The National Veterinary and Plant Protection Authority has also notified 68 poultry breeding entities, which must take biosecurity measures in their establishments, and has also notified the regional veterinary service at the national level, to increase vigilance and monitor the situation.

Currently present on the ground are the Regional veterinary structures of the General Directorate of AKVMB and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development invites farmers and citizens to increase vigilance and cooperate with the authorities with the aim of not only timely reporting of any suspicions through rapid communication on the toll-free number 08003366, but also rigorously implementing biosecurity measures, limiting the exposure of their birds to open environments, to reduce the risk of contact with birds carrying the virus./CNA