Animal health authorities in Latvia renew calls for enhanced biosecurity
As Latvia continues to report outbreaks of bird flu, poultry owners are being reminded to keep birds indoors and adhere to strict biosecurity protocols.
25 March 2021
3 minute read
By: Latvia introduced enhanced biosecurity measures for poultry at the end of February to curb the spread of avian influenza, according to LSM.LV, Latvia’s public broadcasting service. However, animal health authorities have noted biosecurity lapses on poultry farms during inspections.
Speaking to LSM, Rudīte Vārna, a specialist working with Latvia’s Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) said that the checks, “…identified a variety of offences, including 18 farms [that] did not keep birds indoors or in areas with roof and fencing.”
“There are more problems with small barns, where people are keeping some chickens for self-consumption and people are not informed that there are such requirements,” she continued.
Latvia has detected 49 cases of avian influenza in wild birds this year.
